LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

— — 



rt^t^Hl 



Shelf.. 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



7 CXi'X IAA/1 



STUDIES 

IN 

CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 

RELATING TO 

(fitofl mu\ W Wovfl, «-ta*st and hte ?Hto*, 
Paw and fcte future ^tatje* 

COMPRISING FIFTT-TWO LESSONS FOR 

YOUNG PEOPLE IN BIBLE-SCHOOLS, CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS, 
AND NORMAL CLASSES. 

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE BEREAN LESSONS. 

By REV. GEO. A. HUBBELL. 



/i 



" Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, 
where U the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find 
rest for your souls/" 1 — Jeremiah. 



NEW YORK : 
PHILLIPS &, HUNT. 



Copyrighted by the author, 18 






The Library 
of Congress 

WASHINGTON 



C 



A.TORY. 



Tins Manual is intended for the use of young peo- 
ple enlisted in Bible-classes, Christian Associations, 
and Normal classes. It aims to promote the system- 
atic and thorough study of the Holy Scriptures and 
their doctrines. It comprises in fifty-two lessons a 
summary of those doctrines and a survey of the 
whole Bible which maybe mastered in a single year. 
Unlike larger Theological works which devote much 
space to the discussion of heresies, this work aims to 
present truth in simple and positive forms as the 
best antidote to error. 

The importance of a clear and comprehensive 
knowledge of Christianity, and of a settled faith in 
the Holy Scriptures, cannot be over-estimated. True 
piety and sound morality must rest upon this foun- 
dation. " Other foundation can no man lay." Only 
those who are built upon this foundation can be re- 
lied upon for the maintenance of Christianity or for 
its spread among all nations. The tendency in some 
quarters to disparage the severer doctrines of the 
Bible and to weaken the popular faith in its inspira- 
tion is producing infidelity, worklliness, vice, and 
crime; and it must be resisted by increased attention 
to the Word of God as " the only and sufficient rule 
of our faith and practice." 

The author of this Manual has no disposition to 
undervalue theexegetical study of detached portions 
of Holy Scripture; but such studies should not ex- 
clude the systematic study of Christian doctrines, 



Peefatory. 3 

which are needed to give strength to religious char- 
acter and higher qualifications for evangelistic work. 

This book contains numerous references to texts 
of Scripture that might have been transferred entire 
to these pages. But such transfer would have made 
this work of an inconvenient size, and would also 
have defeated one of its objects, viz.. the promotion 
of familiarity with the Bible. Lesson leaves are prac- 
tically excluding the Bible from Bible-schools. A 
generation is growing up as strangers to the Holy 
Book. In every congregation many may be found 
who cannot tell whether certain books quoted from 
are in the Old or the New Testament. But the con- 
stant use of the Bible in connection with this Manual 
will create a familiarity with it, and lead to the dis- 
covery of many beautiful texts which will promote 
spiritual life and efficiency in Christian work. 

The catechetic form has been preferred for this 
work, as being the best adapted to the class for which 
it is prepared. This form has the sanction of the 
great teachers, from the Socratic and Apostolic ages 
to the present time. Timid persons can answer 
questions or, at least, read the answers from the 
book, and thus acquire confidence to express their 
thoughts in their own language. In the use of this 
form pupils may acquire skill in questioning that 
will, in some measure, qualify them for successful 
teachers. 

This Manual has been prepared to meet a want 
felt and observed by the author as a teacher of Bible- 
classes. Much of it has been sketched while travel- 
ling or waiting for cars, and all of it has been written 
in fragments of time amid the throng of other duties: 
hence it may not be absolutely free from mistakes 
which will be promptly corrected when pointed out. 
It is now sent forth with a prayer that it may prove 
"a fellow helper of the truth." 



TOPICAL INDEX. 

Lesson 1 In the Beginning. God page 5 

'* 2. God Revealed in Nature 7 

" 3. God. the Creator of all Things 9 

" 4. Attributes and Providence of God 11 

" 5. Origin and Nature of Man 14 

" 6. Man a Free Moral Agent ; 16 

" 7. Revelations of God to Man 18 

" 8. The Bible, or Holy Scriptures 20 

" 9. Bible-Anal}'sis — Historic Books 22 

" 10. Poetic and Prophetic Bocks of the Bible 25 

" 11. Analysis of the New Testament 27 

" 12. Inspiration Proved by Miracles 29 

'- 13. Prophecy a Proof of Inspiration 8.5 

" 14. Truth and Excellence of the Bible 34 

" 15. The Bible our Rule of Faith 36 

" 16. Christ in the Early Ages 3.) 

" 17. Christ in the A brahamic Family 41 

k ' 18. Christ in Mosaic Rites and Types 43 

" 19. Christ in Hebrew Prophecy 45 

" 20. Christ's Advent and Childhood 48 

" 21. Christ's Ministry Begun 50 

" 22. Christ, the Great Teacher 52 

" 23. Christ's Mighty Works 55 

" 24. Christ's Ministry Finished 57 

" 25. Christ's Death. Resurrection, and Ascension.. 59 

" 26. Christ, the Sympathizing Friend 61 

" 27. Christ our Exemplar 63 

" 28. Christ, the Prophet. Priest, and King 66 

'* 29. Christ's Deity and Humanity 68 

" 30. The Holy Ghost given 71 

" 31. God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost 73 

" 32. Ambassadors of God— the Ministry 75 

" 33. The Great Salvation in Christ 77 

" 34. Salvation Free, but Conditioned 79 

" 35. Repentance, Faith, and Assurance 82 

" 36. Justification, Adoption, and Regeneration — 84 

11 37. Christian Profession— Baptism 86 

" 38. Christian Fellowship— the Church 89 

" 39. The Holy Communion 91 

" 40 Prayer and the Spiritual Life : 93 

" 41. The Love and Worship of God 95 

" 42. The Sabbath and Sanctuary 98 

" 43. Christian Morality or Ethics 100 

" 44. Benevolence and Beneficence 102 

" 45. Marriage— Divorcement .. . 105 

" 46. Church and State 107 

" 47. Temptation. Conflict. Perseverance 109 

'* 48. Growth, Maturity, Perfection 1 »2 

" 49. Death and the Resurrection of Mankind 114 

" 50. The General and Final Judgment 1 J 6 

" 51. The Doom of the Wicked 119 

" 52. The Heaven of the Righteous 121 



STUDIES IN CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE. 



Lesson 1. In the Beginning, God. 

1. WJiat is Theology or Theism? 

It is the doctrine of the existence of God — the 
Supreme Beins;, who made and sustains all things. 

2. What is Atheism ? 

It is the theoretical or the practical denial of the 
existence of a personal God. 

3. What are Pantheism and Materialism ? 
Pantheism asserts that the universe, as a whole, 

including matter, mind, force, and life, is God. 
Materialism asserts that there is nothing but matter 
in the universe, and that what we call mind and life 
are meveJy results of material organizations. 

4. What are Polytheism and Monotheism ? 
Polytheism is a belief in many gods; Monotheism 

asserts the existence of only One God. 

5 . Wh at is De ism ? 

This mongrel word denotes a belief in one God, 
but denies His having given any revelation of Himself 
to man other than may be gathered from His works. 

6 . What is A g n osticism ? 

It is a theory of iguorance: it asserts that we 
cannot know God, but assumes a knowledge of Him 
as the basis of its assertion. 

7. What is the basis of our knowledge? 

It is the reality of things, and the reliability of our 
perceptions of them. 



6 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

8. Are we absolutely certain of anything ? 

Yes. We are conscious that we exist, feel, think, 
and act in material bodies, and that we correctly 
perceive material and spiritual things. 

9. What do you mean by things Material? 

Those things that we perceive by sight, touch, etc., 
and that have form, color, weight, and resistance. 

10. What are things /Spiritual ? 

Those that we perceive mentally, as having 
thought, will, purpose, and moral powers. 
. 11. Is our knowledge of Matter any more reliable than 
our knowledge of Mind? 

No. For certainty does not rest in the nature of 
the object perceived, but in our consciousness that 
we perceive the truth. 

12. Are thought, will, and purpose, properties of 
Matter? 

If they were, they would be found in all forms of 
matter; but since they are never found in its ele- 
mental forms, it is evident that they are separate 
qualities superadded to organic living beings : for 
if mind does not exist in single elements of matter, 
it cannot be produced by a union of these elements. 

13. If matter had a beginning, could it ham origi- 
nated itself, set itself in motion, evolved intelligence and 
will, and organized the Universe and living being*? 

The supposition that it could do so, is preposter- 
ous. Common-sense teaches that nothing cannot 
originate something, or exercise powers that it does 
not possess. 

14. Whence then the plan, purpose, organization, and 
life shown in the Universe? 

Reason affirms that they must have come from the 
Supreme Being whom we call God. 

15. Who or what is God? 

He is an infinite and eternal Spirit — the Creator, 
Sustainer, and Sovereign of the Universe. 

16. Can we believe in One whom we cannot see? 
Sight would be knowledge; belief rests on testi- 



God Revealed in Nature. 7 

mony. We believe in men whom we have not seen, 
and accept their testimony as historians, travellers, 
and scientists; but "the testimony of God is greater," 
and He '"hath not left Himself wishout witness" 
(I John v. 9; Acts xiv. 17; Rom. i. 20). 

17. Where u God? 

He is everywhere, filling heaven and earth (Jer. 
xxiii. 23, 24). 

18. Can we think of God as having a beginning of 
existence ? 

No. We must ascribe eternity to something ; and, 
as we cannot ascribe it to passive and lifeless matter, 
we must attribute it to Him who shapes and controls 
it at will. Reason, therefore, requires us to say: 
"In the beginning, God." (Gen. i. 1; Psa. xc. 1, 2; 
Col i. 17). 

Lesson 2. God Revealed in Nature. 

1. Whence originated our thought of God's existence? 
Some say that it is innate, intuitive, or an original 

suggestion in every mind; others ascribe it to tradi- 
tion ; and others trace it to human reasoning upon 
phenomena. Skeptics suppose that it w T as produced 
b} T a disordered imagination or by a dream ; but the 
probabilities are that it came to the primitive man 
by Divine revelation. 

2. If it were admitted to have been innate or intuitive 
and handed d oi on by tradition, what would follow f 

Our conclusion would be that it is truth ; for such 
a thought is of the nature of infallible instinct. 

3. But what if it originated in reasoning? 

This also would argue its truth; for the fact that 
all sane minds reach the same conclusion from the 
same premises indicates a law of thought that is 
equivalent to any other law of nature, and therefore 
unquestionable truth. 

4. But tchat if this thovght of God originated in imag- 
ination or a, dream ? What then ? 



8 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

Such a supposition has no foundation in history ; 
while the facts that the human mind, in its highest 
culture, accepts the existence of God as the only 
rational explanation of the Universe and holds it 
with unyielding love, proves it to be more than a 
conjecture or dream. 

5. IIoio far back in human history is God recognized? 
Names of God are found in the oldest languages, 

and traces of Divine worship appear in the history, 
monuments, and traditions of all nations. 

6. What do tee mean by the words Nature and Uni~ 
xerse ? 

Nature points to the birth or origin of the 
worlds; while Universe — meaning ''turned into 
one" — points to the unity of the worlds as consti- 
tuting one system under common laws. 

7. Wliat in Nature suggests this Unity? 

The revolution of the planets around a common 
centre; the fixed relations of the stars; the universal- 
ity of the laws of gravitation and attraction; the 
common laws of motion and life; and the mill mil 
adaptations every where apparent, prove that the Uni- 
verse is one system and under the control of one 
mind. 

8. What is meant by the Laics of Nature? 

The regular methods of operation, the processes 
or sequences by which certain effects follow the 
same causes. Sometimes the terms are used to desig- 
nate the forces manifested in electricity, chemical 
affinities, physical descent, instinct, etc. ; but this 
latter use is misleading: for laws are not operators 
but simply methods in which forces act. 

9. Could Nature evolve its own forces and methods? 
Obviously not: any more than nothing can evolve 

something, or death evolve life, or a stone evolve a 
gold chronometer. Law is the product of mind. 
Force is the evidence of personality. Nature's uni- 
form operations for the accomplishment of given 



God — the Creator of all Things. 9 

ends prove the existence of an intelligent Being who 
exerts those forces and directs their action. 

10. What do things organized or made reveal? 
They reveal an Organizer and Maker, or prove 

that such has existed, with genius and power equal 
to such tasks. 

1 1 . Are Nature's products in a made state ? 

This is true of everything. The soils and most of 
the rocks are composite. Water and air are com- 
pounded of separable gases. Vegetable and animal 
bodies are composed of many elements. The Uni- 
verse is, as to its substance, a composite mass, and, 
as to its activities, a complicated mechanism. 

12. Could soil, water, air, and light combined make 
an oak without the aid of God ? 

They could not make the acorn to begin with, nor 
if they had this, could they spontaneously combine 
their forces so as to develop the tree from the germ. 

13. What then does Nature prove concerning God f 
It proves His existence, His presence, and His 

eternal power and wisdom (Psa. xc. 1; Rom. i. 20). 



Lesson 3. God— the Creator of all Things. 

1. What is it to Create? 

It means to bring into being, to cause to exist; but, 
the word is sometimes used in the lower sense of 
composing out of pre-exisient materials. 

2. Do creations come under our notice? 

In the lower sense, we create new forms and com- 
binations out of old materials; while inventions in 
mechanics, art. and literature, are creations in a 
higher sense and suggestive of absolute creations by 
the Supreme Being. 

3. What answer icould you give to one wlio asserts 
that the Universe is uncreated and eternal? 

I would demand the proofs: and failing to get 
these, I would claim that He who could form and 



10 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

sustain the worlds must have been able to originate 
the materials of which they are composed. 

4. Can you believe that the Universe came from 
nothing f 

I can only believe what is sustained by evidence ; 
and all the evidence bearing upon this is in the 
Scripture- representation that God is the Source of 
all being — " the Father of lights," " the Father of 
spirits," "from whom are all things," and "the 
visible things of Him were not made of things 
which do appear." (Rom. i. 20, xi. 36; 1 Cor. viii. 
6; Eph. i. 23; Heb. xi. 3; Matt. xix. 26.) With 
these Scriptures, Reason agrees in regarding the Uni- 
verse as an effect, of which God is the First Cause. 
And here I rest, content to " know only in part." 

5. What is the Bible-account of the Creation? 

"In the beginning, God created the heaven and 
the earth." "He spake, audit was done." "The 
worlds were formed by the word of God." (Gen. i. 
1; Psa. xxxiii. 9; Heb. xi. 3.) 

6. What icas the order of the Creation f 
First the heaven, then the earth. 

7. How long before the earth were the heavens 
created ? 

There is no revelation of this; and probably no 
human language nor figures, could tell the age of the 
heavens that were "of old" (Job. xxxviii. 3-7; Psa. 
lxviii. 32, 33 ; John v. 17; 2 Pet. iii. 5). 
;s. 7.v the earth of recent origin ? 

Both the Bible and Geology teach that it has been 
habitable by man only a. few thousand years. 

9. Was the earth habitable as soon as it existed? 

No: the Bible says "it was without form, and 
void," but it does not intimate how long it remained 
so. Geology claims long ages for the formation of 
rocks and soils. 

10. Are we to understand the six formative days in 
the Mosaic narrative as literal days of twenty-fo-ar 
hours each? 



Attributes and Providence of God. 11 

Not necessarily: for, while God was able to ac- 
complish all in such a time, the word rendered "day" 
may be understood as meaning a long period, and is 
evidently so used by Moses in Gen, ii. 4. "One 
day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a 
thousand years as one day" (2 Pet. iii. 8). 

11. Admitting that the earth was at first in a chaotic 
or fluid state, as the Bible and Geology indicate, how 
could a crust be formed upon it covered with tegetable 
and animal life f 

Only by creative acts of God. 

12. Could the soils evolve vegetation, and animal life 
spring from this? 

This suggestion is absurd. No order of being can 
exert powers or produce an order of being above 
itself. 

13. In fitting the earth for man's abode, what succes- 
sive steps were taken, as stated by Moses f 

First, God "-moved upon" or vivified the waters; 
then created light ; formed the atmosphere; separated 
the land from the water; planted the soil with vege- 
tation; cleared the air so as to make the sun, moon, 
and stars visible; established the seasons; en a ted 
sea-monsters and birds; then the land-animals ap- 
peared; and last of all, man was made (Gen. i.). 

14. Does Geology confirm this record? 

It does in all essential points: its consecutive ages 
— the Archaean, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, 
Reptilian, and Mammalian; and its later classifica- 
tion of Azoic, Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Calnozoic 
are sufficiently accurate parallels to the Mosaic nar- 
rative. 

Lesson 4. Attributes and Providence of God. 

1. What is meant by the Attributes of God? 
The powers and perfections which are attributed 
to him by his inspired servants, or that he has claimed 
for himself. 



12 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

2. Bow are these Attributes classified? 
They are called Natural and Moral. 

3. Which are his Natural Attributes? 

Those which belong to Him as the Author of Na- 
ture and source of life; as eternity, spirituality, one- 
ness, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence and 
immutability, 

4. Which of his Attributes are called Moral? 
Those that relate to Him as the Law-giver and 

Supreme Ruler; such as wisdom, goodness, holiness, 
truth, faithfulness, justice, mercy, and love, — all of 
which are manifested in his government of mankind. 

5. What is Divine Providence? 

It is God's foresight of creature-wants and provi- 
sion for supplying them : and it implies His indwelling 
and sustaining presence in the whole Universe. 

6. Can we think of the Universe as self-sustaining ? 
No more than we could think of ourselves as self- 
existing and standing upon nothing. 

7. Can we think of natural forces keeping the worlds 
in motion and perpetuating life? 

This is no more thinkable than would be the sug- 
gestion that natural laws construct engines and sup- 
ply them with coal and fire and water, without the 
aid of human intelligence. 

8. How can we rationally account for the sustentation 
and orderly movements of the Universe ? 

Only by recognizing the Providence of God. 

9. Does God use natural agents in Providence? 
Unquestionably: for we see electrical and chemi- 
cal agents, gravitation, attraction, light, heat, etc., 
constantly at work and controlled by him as com- 
pletely as the levers of an engine are governed by 
an engineer. 

10. By what agencies does He keep our atmosphere 
pure and life-sustaining ? 

By solar heat, variable temperatures, winds, evap 
orations and precipitations of rain and snow, by the 
absorption and emission of gases through vegetable 



Attributes a^d Pkoyidexce of God. 13 

and animal life, by the consumption of carbon, and 
by electrical explosions and currents. 

11. How are the waters kept healthful f 

By means of evaporation, oxygenation, precipita- 
tion, and filtration through soils. 

12. How is the fertility of the soil preserved f 

By chemical transformations, intermixture of ele- 
ments, heat and cold, light/moisture, and change of 
seasons. 

13. In the perpetual supply of animal food, what is 
shown f 

In this we see the marvellous foresight, resources, 
care, and goodness of God. (Psa. cxlv. 16.) 

1 4. Whd t not a ble provision was made for man's wa n ts, 
long before his creation? 

God provided the minerals — granite, marble and 
other useful and precious stones, as well as vast 
quantities of coal and petroleum — and the precious 
metals for use in a Christian civilization. 

15. What do we daily experience of Divine Provi- 
dence? 

It is "in God we live and move," and from Him we 
receive all the blessings and comforts of life. 

16. Viewed from a moral stand-point, what have been 
the common experiences of mankind? 

All nations that have been virtuous or righteous, 
as judged by the common ideas of rectitude, have 
been prosperous and happy; while the vicious or 
wicked, have suffered calamities, decay, and dissolu- 
tion. 

17. When people are overtaken by calamities, such 
as earthquakes, pestilence, or famine, what has been 
their general practice ? 

They confess their sins and look to God for pardon 
and deliverance. 

18. What does this practice show ? 

It shows the general conviction that God governs 
the world in the interests of righteousness. 



14 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 



Lesson 5. Origin and Nature of Man. 

1. Has man existed long upon the earth? 

Neither fossils, monuments, traditions, history, nor 
the Bible indicate that mankind have existed more 
than 7000 to 10,000 years. 

2. Did mankind spring from apes or brutes? 
There is no scientific, historic, or rational basis for 

such an opinion, and it is contrary to the Bible. 

3. In what does man differ from brute*? 

In his larger brain and more delicate nerve organ- 
ization, and in his superior mental powers, especially 
in his possession of moral and religious faculties 
which the brutes have not. 

4. What was the origin of man ? 

He was created by God — his body was formwd 
of earth, and his soul was breathed into him by the 
Infinite Spirit. (Gen. ii. 7.) 

5. Was man created an inferior being to be advanced 
to his present eminence by culture? 

There is no proof of this. The latest discoveries 
show that the so-called " stone, bronze, and iron ages" 
were contemporaneous, or existed in different order 
than has been assumed: while the remains of ancient 
architecture, art, and literature, prove that human 
genius and power were the same in early times as 
they are now. 

6. What does chemical analysis find in man's body ? 
Numerous earthy substances — carbon, oxygen, hy- 
drogen, phosphorus, etc. 

7. Has a soul or spirit been found in these? 

No: and it is absurd to look for an invisible and 
imponderable substance with microscope or scales. 
Life cannot be found by these instruments; yet all 
know that it exists. 

8. What proof is there that the soul exists as distinct 
from the body ? 

Proofs are given in the power that mind has over 



Oeigix and Nature of Max. 15 

matter; in the permanence of the mind, while the 
body is constantly changing; in the continued activ- 
ity of the mind, while the bodily senses are closed 
in sleep and swoon; in the selfhood expressed by 
everybody who says "My hand, my foot," etc., — thus 
showing the consciousness of an existence to which 
the body and its members are mere appendages or 
instruments; in the fact that the mind remains un- 
impaired when the body has wasted away to a skele- 
ton, or portions of it and of the brain have been 
severed from it, and even grows more brilliant and 
powerful up to the death of the body; in the nearly 
universal belief in the soul's separate and continued 
existence; and in the declarations of the Holy Bible. 
(G<m. ii. 7; Job xxxii. 8; 1 Kings xvii. 22; Eccl. xii. 
7; Luke xxiii. 46; Acts vii. 59; 2 Cor. v. 8; lie v. xx. 
4.) 

9 . Did m a n kin d desce n d fro m one fa mi ly f 

So the Holy Scriptures teach; and this is confirmed 
by researches in history, language, anatomy, and 
psychology. 

10. J low then are the diversities in size, physiognomy, 
color, mental and social characteristics to be explained? 

These diversities are traceable to the common laws 
of variation in species and differences in climate and 
habits of life. The Jews, in their wide dispersion 
through all climes, show nearly all of these variations. 

11. What does this unity of mankind suggest f 

It suggests the fatherhood of God and the brother- 
hood of man; and points to a unity of religion as 
well as to the duty of maintaining a common inter- 
est with equity and kiudness among all nations and 
races. 

12. Where were our first parents located? 

This cannot be certainly determined; and yet 
both the Bible and tradition point to Asia and to the 
region near the head of the river Euphrates as the 
original home of the race. 

13. Will mankind become extinct or ever cease to be? 



16 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

In death their bodies may be dissolved into their 
primitive elements; but as these elements never per- 
ish, the presumption is that the soul continues to live 
after it leaves the body. 
14. What becomes of the souls of the dead ? 

They return to God. (Eccl. xii. 7; 2 Cor. v. 8.) 

Lesson 6. Man a Free Moral Agent. 

1. What is meant by a free moral agent" f 

It means a person capable of choosing and acting 
with reference to laws of righteousness, free from 
all compulsion from forces outside of himself, but 
responsible for his acts. 

2. Are mankind free moral agents? 

They are universally so regarded, as is shown in 
the universality of law T , in the praise and blame be- 
stowed, and in the approvals and reproaches of con- 
science. 

3. What was the first moral state of Man? 

Man was made in the image and likeness of God, 
and was pronounced "good." (Gen. i. 26-31.) 

4. To what do " image and likeness'" here refer? 
Not to bodily resemblance, for " God is a Spirit" 

(John iv. 24); but to moral state: "Knowledge, right- 
eousness, and holiness" (Eph. iv. 24; Col. iii. 10). 

5. In what respects were Adam and Em "good''? 
In all respects as to body, mind, and spirit; they 

were perfect in all their faculties. 

6. Could they have retained their goodness? 
Undoubtedly; for although power to choose holi- 
ness involved pow T er to choose its opposite, they evi- 
dently had sufficient power and motives for continuing 
to choose and act aright. 

7. With what safe-guards did God surround them ? 
He placed them in a Paradise where every want 

of their nature was supplied; and gave them warn- 
ing against wrong-doing. (Gen. ii. 8, 9, 16. 17.) 

8. To what test was their goodness subjected? 



Mast a Free Moral Age:nt. 11 

To the test of self-denial — or abstinence from bod- 
ily gratification for moral reasons. (Gen. ii. 16, 17.) 

9. Why were they thus tested or tried? 

Doubtless for the development of their moral 
powers by habitual exercise; thus proving their 
loyalty to righteousness and increasing their happi- 
ness. 

10. Did they maintain their integrity? 

No; they ate of the forbidden fruit. (Gen. iii.) 

11. How came they to do this? 

Eve was deceived by an artful foe, as to the mean- 
ing and penalty of the law under which she was 
placed, and was lured by deceptive assurances of good ; 
and she persuaded Adam to follow her example. 
(Gen. iii. 6; 1 Tim. ii. 14.) 

12. Who deceived Eve? 

The devil — the chief of the fallen angels who had 
been banished from heaven. (Gen. iii.; Rev. xx. 
2-10.) 

13. lb what penalty were mankind exposed? 
To the penalty of death. (Gen. ii. 17.) 

14. Was this inflicted in the day of their sin ? 

Not fully. They suffered a spiritual death — tire 
loss of right action towards God, and the loss of His 
favor and fellowship. They were also separated 
from the tree of life which alone could preserve them 
from bodily sickness and death. (Gen. iii. 7-13; 
Rom. v. 12.) 

15. Why teas it not then fully inflicted? 

Because of the mitigating facts of deception and 
temptation under which they had sinned, God wise- 
ly and mercifully provided for them a Saviour, 
through whom they might obtain pardon and moral 
recovery. (Rom. iv. 23-26; 2 Tim. ii. 26.) 

16. Did God reveal to them His gracious pur pose? 
He did, in the assurance that the seed of the wo- 
man siiculd bruise the head of their destroyer. (Gen= 
iii. 15.) 

17. Is it probable that they understood this? 

2 



18 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

It is obvious that they understood that their re- 
demption was to be effected by a sacrificial death; 
for animal sacrifices soon began to be offered "by 
faith." (Gen. iv. 3, 4; Heb. xi. 4.) 

18. What mercies did God immediately show them? 
He granted them life with its blessings, and pro- 
vided for their bodily and spiritual wants. 

19. According to this account, how did evil originate 
in our world f 

It was suggested by an enemy, and developed 
through so much attention to finite good as to lead 
the soul to prefer it before the Infinite. Cherished 
earthly desire became the ruling passion. (Rom. i. 
25.) 

Lesson 7. Revelations of God to Man. 

1. What is a Revelation f 

It means something brought into view by the re- 
moval of a veil. 

2. Bid fallen Adam need revelations of God? 

He did, because his mind had been darkened, his 
perceptions dimmed, his imagination perverted, and 
all his moral powers depraved bv his sin. (Gen. vi. 
5, 11, 12; Isa. i. 4-6; Jer. xvii/9; Rom. i. 21, 22; 
2 Cor. iv. 3, 4.) 

3. Is it reasonable to suppose that God would reveal 
Himself and His will to depraved man? 

It is; for His providential care for all creature- 
wants, and His mercy to man in Paradise, reveal His 
gracious disposition to give to mankind all needful 
guidance and help in the way of life. 

4. Has God made revelations of Himself to man f 
He has proclaimed His greatness and glory in the 

vastness of creation, His wisdom in the wonderful 
adaptations in Nature, and His fatherly care in His 
abundant provisions for His creatures; He appeared 
to Adam and talked with him after his fall ; He mnde 
many communications of His will to the ancient Pa- 



Revelations of God to Man. 19 

triarchs and Prophets ; He spake to multitudes by His 
Son Jesus Christ; He now speaks to every human 
soul by His Spirit — reproving of sin and persuading 
to righteousness. 

5. Has God given to men verbal revelations to be re- 
corded as His statutes and truth ? 

Yes; He gave such revelations to the ancients, par- 
ticularly to Moses and the Prophets and to the Apos- 
tles of Christ. 

6. In what period of human history were these revela- 
tions given ? 

They were given at sundry times, during 4000 
years — ending about 1800 years ago. 

7. Bow were these messages given f 

By voices, symbolical actions, and writing. 

8. How could they who received them, know that they 
came from God? 

They knew not only by the supernatural manifes- 
tations of power that accompanied them, but also by 
the facts that they were worthy of God and above 
the inventions of the human mind. (Isa. lv. 8.) 

9. What proof s did they present to the icorld that they 
were authorized to make knoicn the will of God f 

Some of them wrought miracles of power, and 
others presented miracles of foreknowledge which 
convinced all of the Divine presence and working; 
while all of them exhibited such holy lives as gave 
evidence of their fellowship with God. 

10. Could those Prophets and Apostles have been de- 
ceived by the devil or by their own delirious imagine 
tions f 

This supposition is repelled by the soundness of 
their minds, the rational character of their records, 
the purity of their lives, and their consistent hostility 
to Satan, sin, and error. 

11. Could they have been bad men? self-seeking im- 
postors, living by their wits and by duping the people f 

Nay; the moral grandeur of their lives, their he- 
roic and philanthropic labors, their great sacrifices 



20 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

for the truth, and their denunciation of Divine judg- 
ments against all hypocrites and pretenders, show 
that they were "the true servants of the most high 
God." (Dan. iii. 26.) 

12. Could there have been a conspiracy among iliem 
to create a book that should sustain a priestly class and 
govern the world f 

Such a conspiracy would have been one of the 
greatest of miracles. For their book was written in 
different languages and countries during a period of 
1600 or more years. A conspiracy was impossible 
in the case; for most of the authors never saw each 
other, and some of thern never saw the writings of 
most of the others. Yet, strange to say, when all 
their books were brought together into one volume, 
they were found fitting into each other — like all the 
pieces of a watch. 

13. Have we a copy of these Divine Revelations f 
Yes, in the Bible — "the Holy Scriptures which are 

able to make us wise unto salvation." (2 Tim. iii. 
15-17.) 



Lesson 8. The Bible, or Holy Scriptures. 

1 . What is the meaning of Bible, and Scriptures? 
"Bible" means a book, " Scriptures" are writings. 

By The Bible we mean the book written by holy 
men of old— the word of God. (2 Pet. i. 21 ; 2 Tim. 
iii. 15-17.) 

2. Where and when teas the Bible written ? 

The most of it was written in Judea; portions of 
it were written in the adjacent countries of Africa, 
Asia, and Europe; all of it was written between 1800 
and 4000 years ago. 

3. In what languages icere the Scriptures written f 
In Hebrew, Chaldee, and Greek. 

4. Are copies of them extant in those languages f 
Manuscript copies of them, of great antiquity, are 



The Bible, or Holy Scriptures. 21 

sacredly preserved in the libraries of Europe and 
Asia. 

5. What measures were taken by the Jews to preserve 
the purity of their holy Scriptures? 

They kept a sleepless guard over them in the Tem- 
ple; they multiplied copies of them to be kept in 
palaces, synagogues, and the homes of the people; 
they counted the words and letters of every copy 
made; and they taught and practised the utmost rev- 
erence for the Book. 

6. Wliat pains have been taken to preserve the Grecian 
or Christian Scriptures ? 

These, too, have been copied with care, and have 
been distributed widely among libraries, scholars, 
and people of all classes; but in later centuries copy- 
ists have attempted to edit their texts so as to con- 
form them to versions or to what they deemed clas- 
sic grammar, and thus have introduced many various 
readings. 

7. Have attempts been made to corrupt the Scriptures? 
Marcion, in the second Christian century, muti- 
lated the Gospels and Epistles of Paul, in support of 
his speculations; but his works perished. 

8. What translations of the Bible were made in ancient 
times ? 

The books of Moses were copied into the Samari- 
tan script several hundred years before Christ came; 
and the entire Hebrew Scriptures were translated 
into Greek, 270 years B.C. Both Hebrew and Greek 
Scriptures were early (ranslated into Latin, Coptic, 
Gothic, and other languages — copies of which are 
still preserved. 

9. When were the Holy Scriptures translated into the 
English language? 

Portions of the Bible w T ere rendered into English 
in the 8th and 10th centuries, byAldhelm, Egbert, 
and Bede. A complete version was finished in 1290. 
Wicklif's version was issued in 1380; and Tyndal's 
2sew Testament in 1525. The standard version (King 



22 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

James's) was published in 1611. More recent versions 
and revisions have been made, but they do not mod- 
ify a single doctrine in the Book. 

10. Have any considerable poi tions of the Holy Scrip- 
tures come down to us through other channels ? 

We have many accurate quotations from them in 
public documents, controversial writings, and schol- 
arly works of various kinds. 

11. What circumstances have tended to the careful 
preservation of the Holy Scriptures by Christians ? 

The reverence and cherished love for them, the 
devotional study of them by ministers and people in 
all the walks of life, and the constant appeal to them 
in all questions of faith and duty, have kept the gen- 
eral attention so closely fixed upon them as to render 
it impossible to corrupt or destroy them. 

12. Into Iww many languages have the Holy Scriptures 
been translated? 

Portions of them are now published in about 300 
languages, and the entire volume is published in all 
the prominent languages of the earth. 

13. Is there substantial harmony among the multitu- 
dinous copies and versions of the Bible? 

Eminent scholars who have examined various read- 
ings and many versions, assure us that their agree- 
ment in doctrinal and ethical teachings is perfect. 

14. What do these facts concerning the Bible show? 
They show that great importance has been and 

still is attached to this Book by the learned, the great, 
and the good; and that it is worthy of our serious 
attention and study. 

Lesson 9. Bible analysis ; the Historic 
Books. 

1. Is the Bible one book, or many in one? 
It contains sixty-six books, written by about forty 
different persons ; but as to doctrine and aim, they 
make one book. 



Bible-analysis; the Historic Books. 23 

2. What are its two principal divisions f 

The Old and New Testaments, or the Hebrew and 
Christian Scriptures. 

3. What does " Testament " here mean? 

It means a Will, or Covenant; and the Scriptures 
are so called because they contain records of God's 
will, or the covenants that He has made with man- 
kind. 

4. WJiat subdivisions are made in the Old Testa- 
ment ? 

Its thirty-nine books are sometimes classified as 
"the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms;" and also 
as the Pentateuch, the Historic, Poetic, and Prophetic 
books. 

5. What books are included in the Pentateuch f 

The rive books of Moses — Genesis, Exodus, Levit- 
icus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. 
(3. What proofs are there of the Mosaic authorship of 
these books f 

In addition to the uniform traditions of the Jews, 
and the testimony of their historians, Christ and His 
Apostles give about twenty-five distinct testimonies 
to this fact. 

7. What does " Genesis" mean and contain? 

It means "origin," and contains an account of 
the origin of the world, and its inhabitants, with the 
origin and early history of the Hebrew people. 

8. Describe the other books of Moses. 

"Exodus" means "the going out," and it describes 
the going out of the Hebrews from Egypt, and the 
giving of the Law to them at Sinai. "Leviticus" 
contains particularly the laws relating to the Leviti- 
cal priesthood and religious rites. "Numbers" is 
the book of the Census, and contains many laws and 
ordinances. "Deuteronomy" — the second law — is a 
resume of Jewish history and institutions down to 
the death of Moses. 

9. Name the Historic books of the Old Testament. 



24 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, 
Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. 

10. Give a Synopsis of the book of Joshua, 

It is a record of God's revelations to him; of the 
conquest of Canaan under his generalship; the divis- 
ion of the land; and his farewell address. 

11. What is recorded in the book of Judges f 

The history of Israel under Judges, or temporary 
rulers, for about four hundred years ; with the mani- 
festations of God's displeasure when they sinned, 
and of His mercy when they repented. 

12. To what does the book of Ruth relate? 

It records the history of a devout woman who, 
from a co-ordinate branch of the Abrahamic family, 
was incorporated into the Jewish nation. She be- 
came the mother of a line of kings reaching down to 
Christ. 

13. Outline the two books of Samuel, 

They contain the history of this great prophet, and 
the history of Israel under the reigns of Saul and 
David. 

14. What do ice find in the books of Kings f 
Accounts of the reign of Solomon; the build- 
ing and dedication of the temple ; the varying 
fortunes of the Israelites under their successive 
Kings down to the Bab}donian captivity; and ac- 
counts of the manifestations of God to them by His 
prophets and providences. 

15. What do the Chronicles contain? 

Numerous genealogical records, and a resume of 
the history of the Israelites dowm to the captivity: 
these books evidently being written after the cap- 
tivity, and probably compiled from priestly rec- 
ords. 

16. Describe the books of Ezra, JVehemiah, and 
Esther. 

They record some of the experiences of the Jews 
in captivity; God's fnvors to them; their final de- 
liverance and restoration to their fatherland. 



The Poetic axd Prophetic Books. 2j 

17. What lessons are taught in these Historic books? 
They show the sinful tendencies of human nature; 
the disciplinary power of Divine providences; the 
holiness, forbearance, and pardoning merc} r of God; 
and they present strong motives for maintaining 
personal and national rectitude. 



Lesson 10. Tiie Poetic and Prophetic Books 
of the Bible, 

1. Which of the sacred, books are called Poetic f 

Job, the Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesia?tes, Song of 
Solomon, and the Lamentations of Jeremiah. 

2. Describe the book of Job. 

It is a biography of a pious patriarch who 
was contemporary with Jacob (b.c. 1700) ; and a 
treatise upon Divine Providence, or the problem of 
human suffering: and this treatise is in the form of 
a dialogue between Job and his friends. 
8. By whom were the Psalms written f 

By David the King of Israel, Moses, Asaph, and 
later poets. 

4. What are the general features of the Psalms f 
They are religious lyrics descriptive of the at- 
tributes and works of Gold; and although some of 
them breathe national and kingly thoughts and as- 
pirations, and others are prophetic, they generally 
express the devotional thoughts and feelings of uni- 
versal humanity. 

5. Who wrote the Proverbs, and ichat are their 
characteristics? 

They are ascribed to Solomon, King of Israel, 
and are wise maxfins for the guidance and govern- 
ment of life. 

6. What can you say of the book of Ecehsiastes f 
Tins book claims Solomon as its author. (elm p. i. 

1, 12; xii. 9-12), and is an essay on the vanity of 
human life when it is devoted to worldly gains and 



20 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

selfish gratifications: it contains warnings against 
the perils of sin, and admonitions to godly living, 

7. What are the peculiarities of Solomon's Song f 
This is a religious ode describing the love between 

a devout soul and God. It is peculiar in the Oriental 
freedom with which it uses conjugal love to illus- 
trate its theme. Its aim was doubtless to elevate 
souls above the mere drudgery of ritualism, into the 
ecstasies of the spiritual life. 

8. What is the theme of the Lamentations f 

This tender poem of sorrow relates to the apostasy 
of Israel, and the woes of famine, war, and captiv- 
ity that befell them. 

9. How are the Prophetic books classified f 

They are divided into four Major and twelve 
Minor prophets — the Major being Isaiah, Jeremiah, 
Ezekiel, and Daniel. 

10. When, and about what, did Isaiah w rite f 

lie wrote between 760 and 700 B.C.; and con- 
cerning the Jewish and neighboring nations — the 
wickedness prevailing, and the woes that were com- 
ing. Especially did he write of the coming Messiah 
and the glory of his Kingdom, for which he is called 
"'the Evangelical or Gospel prophet." 

11. What was the age, and scope, of Jeremiah" s proph- 
ecies f 

He wrote between 628 and 586 B.C., concerning 
the fall and restoration of Israel, and the destruction 
of the cities and empires of their oppressors. He 
also prophesied of Christ. 

12. When did Ezekiel write, and what about? 

He wrote during the Babylonian captivity — be- 
tween 594 and 575 B.C. His aim was to lead the 
captives to repentance and preparation for their re- 
turn. He also foretold the coming and kingdom of 
Christ. 
1?). What were DanieVs age and themes ? 

He also wrote during the captivity, between 600 
and 538 B.C.; predicting the rise and fall of four 



ANALYSIS OF THE ISTeW TESTAMENT. 27 

geat consecutive empires, the coming of Christ, the 
end of the world, and final destiny of mankind. 
14 Name two of the earlier Minor Prophets. 
They were Jonah and Nalium (860-713 B.C.): 
their prophecies related to the overthrow of oppres- 
sive Nineveh. 

15. Name four Prophets in Israel who wrote before 
the fdl of the Samaritan Kingdom. 

Joel, Amos, Hosea, and Micah, from 800 to 710 
years B.C. They sought the reformation of the 
people. 

16. Which Prophets wrote after the fall of Samaria 
and before the captivity of Judah ? 

Zephaniah and Habakkuk (B.C. 630-626); and 
they tried to reform and save the nation. 

17. Which of the Minor Prophets wrote during the 
captivity of J ad ah f 

Obadiah, Haggai, and Zechariah (B.C. 520-487); 
and their predictions were chiefly for the encourage- 
ment of the returning captives. 

18. Name the last of the Minor Prophets. 
Malachi, who wrote about 897 b c. to prepare the 

people for the coming of Christ. 



Lesson 11. Analysis of the New Testament. 

1. How many books are there in the New Testament, 
and how are they classified? 

There are twenty-seven books, classified as His- 
torical, Epistolary, and the Apocalypse, or Revela- 
tion. 

2. Name the Historical books f 

They are the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. 

3. When and by whom were they written? 

They were written within fifty years after Christ's 
death; the rirst and fourth of them by Apostles of 
Christ, named Matthew and John; and the second 
and third by Mark and Luke, who were early con- 



verts to Christianity, if not disciples of Christ. Luke 
also wrote the Acts of the Apostles. 

4. What is the meaning of " Gospel" ? 

It means good news; and the name was given to 
these books because they contain the good news of 
salvation for mankind through Jesus Christ. 

5. What is the subject-matter of the Gospels? 

They contain narratives of the birih, life, minis- 
try, miracles, discourses, sufferings, death, resurrec- 
tion, and ascension of Jesus Christ — the Messiah of 
Jewish prophecy, and the Saviour of mankind. 

6. What differences are noted in the Gospels ? 

The first three of them resemble each other in 
their narration of the same facts, but not in the same 
minuteness and order. The fourth differs from the 
others in the omission of many then well-known in- 
cidents, and in its fuller reports of the discourses of 
Christ, which had been omitted by the others. 

7. What historic facts in the Ads? 

In tli is book we have an account of Christ's re-ap- 
pearing to His Apostles after His resurrection ; His last 
conversation with them; His ascension; the descent 
of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles; their preach- 
ing, miracles, successes, and persecutions; the dis- 
persion of the Church; the conversion of Paul, who 
itinerated widely as an Apostle, gave his testimony 
before kings and courts, and converted many Greeks 
and Romans to Christ. 

8. Who wrote the Epistles ? 

The first fourteen of them were written by St. 
Paul, and the remaining seven by Peter, John, 
James, and Jude. 

9. Give a general description of the Epistles? 

They contain expositions of Christian doctrine, 
and hortatory applications of the precepts of Chris- 
tianity; and their aim was to establish their converts 
in the faith, prompt them to purity of life, and en- 
courage them to endure bravely the obloquy and 
per&ecutions to which they were exposed. 



Inspiration and Miracles. 29 

10. What is the last book in the Bible called? 

The Apocalypse — that is, brought out of darkness; 
or, as we render it, the Revelation. 

11. Where, by whom, and when was it written f 

It was written by St. John the Apostle, when he 
was an exile on Patmos island, probably near the 
close of the first Christian century. 

12. Give a synopsis of this book f 

It contains an account of Christ's celestial appear- 
ance to him with messages for the churches in Asia 
Minor; and a series of prophetic visions relating to 
the church of Christ, its persecutions, the overthrow 
of its foes, its final triumph, the end of the world, 
the resurrection, judgment, and final state of man- 
kind. 

13. W7iat learning to readers and critics is given at 
the end of this book? 

All are warned against taking anything from it, 
or adding anything to it. 

14. Is, then, the Bible a complete revelation of the 
character, will, and government of Godf 

It contains all that w T e need to know or believe in 
order to holy living and salvation. 

Lesson 12. Inspiration and Miracles. 

1. What teas the origin of the Holy Scriptures f 
They were given by inspiration of God. (2 Tim. 

iii. 16.) 

2. What is meant by Divine inspiration f 

It means the "in-breathing" of God. As he 
breathed life and soul into the body of Adam (Gen. 
ii. 7; Job xxxii. 8), so has he breathed spiritual life 
and understanding into devout souls — both revealing- 
truth and giving them authority to declare it to 
others by voice and pen. 

3. Do the sacred writers claim Divine inspiration f 
Some of them specifically claim it, and others 

show it by their writings. (Exod. xxxiv. 27; Deut. 



30 Studies in Christian Doctrine* 

xxx i. 19; Isa. viii. 1; Jer. xxx. 2; Ezek. xliii. 11* 
Dan. xii. 4; Hab. ii. 2; Luke i. 1-4; Jobn xxi. 24; 
Acts xv. 22-30; 1 Cor. vii. 40; xiv. 37; 1 Thess. y. 
27; 1 Tim. iv. 1; Rev. i. 11; xxi. 5.) 

4. Did the later writers confirm the claims of the more 
ancient ones? 

They did by direct statement, and by appealing to 
their writings as "the word of God." (Psa. xix. 
7; Isa. viii. 10; Acts i. 16; xxviii. 25-27; Heb. i. 1; 
2 Tim. iii. 15-16; 2 Pet. i. 21.) 

5. Did Christ support these claims? 

He did by reverently treating the sacred books; 
by frequent quotations from them; aud by referring 
to them as true and immutable. (Luke iv. 16-21; 
x. 26; xvi. 29-31; John v. 37-47; x 35; xviL 17; 
Matt. v. 17-18.) 

6. Has God endorsed these claims to inspiration ? 

He has by voice and signs from heaven, by the 
gift of miraculous powers, and by His providences. 
(Exod. xix.; Joshua x. 8-14; 1 Sam. vii. 10; xii. 18; 
1 Kings xvii. 1; xviii. 36-38; 2 Kings i. 12; 1 Chron. 
xvi. 21-22; Dan. vi. ; Acts, xii.) 

7. What is a Miracle? 

It is a wonderful effect or event of a supernatural 
character, wrought by the power of God in response 
to the call of His servants, and in confirmation of some 
truth. 

8. What is the difference between miracles and prod- 
igies ? 

A prodigy is something extraordinary, but with, 
out connection with any moral event; while a true 
miracle always has a specific moral end in view. 

9. Into what classes may Bible miracles be grouped? 
They may be classed as miracles of Power, and 

miracles of foreknowledge or Prophecy. 

10. Mention some of the miracles wrought by the 
power of God at the word of Moses? 

The ten plagues were brought upon Enj T p^ * ne 
Red Sea was divided; manna was brought from the 



INSPIRATION AND MlRACLES. CI 

skies, and water from the rock, for the sustenance of 
Israel. (Exori. vli.-xi. ; xv.-xvi.; Numb, xx. 11.) 

11. What miracles were icrought through Joshua? 
Jordan was divided ; the walls of Jericho were 

thrown down; and a day was snpernaturally 
lengthened. (Josh. iii. 15-17; iv. ; x. 11-12.) 

12. What miracles were wrought by Judges and 
Prophets? 

The clear sky gave forth thunders; food was mul- 
tiplied; a bitter fountain was made palatable; pofccrf*.. 
were rendered powerless; lepers were cleansed ; the 
shadow on a sun-dial was sent backward; sickness 
was removed; and the dead were brought 'back to 
life. (1 Sam vii. 10; xii. 18; 1 Kings xvii. 1, 22; 2 
Kings ii. 7-14; xx. 1-7; Isa. xxxviii. 8.) 

13. Mention some of the miracles of Christ? 

He healed the fever-stricken, the paralytic, the 
lame, blind, deaf and dumb, the leprous and the in- 
sane; He quieted the tempests and waves of the sea, 
He created food for the hungry and raised the dead to 
life. (Matt. iv. 28-24: viii. 1-5. 14-17; ix. 2-8; xii. 
9-13; xiv. 34-36; xv. 32-39; xvii. 14-21: Mark x. 45- 
52; John xi. 1-16, 45-54.) 

14. What miracles were wrought ~by His Apostles? 
At their word the earth quaked ; prison-doors were 

opened: the lame and sick were healed; the dead 
were raised to life; and they spake in languages that 
they had never learned. (Acts ii. 4-6: iii. 1-10; iv. 
31: v. 1-11. 15-16; ix. 36-41; xiii. 8-11; xiv. 8-11; 
xix. 22; xx. 9-12.) 

15. What is characteristic of Bible miracles ? 

They were wrought in open day before competent 
witnesses, for a Divine endorsement of the claims 
of God's servants; and they were generally of a 
beneficent character. 

16. Were those who witnessed them generally convinced 
of their Divine source ? 

Thev were. (1 Kincrsxviii. 30-39; John ii. 23; iii. 
2; ix. J6-33; Actsiv. 16; v. 12-14; ix. 32-42: xiii. 12.) 



32 Studies ik Christian Doctrine. 

17. What do these miracles prove to us? 
They prove that the Book written by those ser- 
vants of God has His endorsement, and is worthy 
of acceptance, faith, and earnest study. 

Lesson 13. Prophecy a Proof of Inspiration. 

1. What is Prophecy in its highest sense? 

It is a miracle of fore-knowledge, or the foretelling 
of future events that are dependent upon contingen- 
cies which no merely human sagacity could fore- 
see. 

2. Upon what do Scientists base their predictions of 
astronomical phenomena, weather-changes, etc. ? 

They base them upon observations, and the as- 
sumption that Nature's operations will be repeated. 

3. Are Scientific prophecies absolutely certain of ful- 
fillment ? 

No : for no mortal knows how long the Author of 
Nature will continue its present movements and 
form. 

4. Suppose that one shovld say: "London, Paris, 
and JVew York will be totally destroyed because such a 
fate befell the voluptuous cities of the Old World;" 
would this be prophecy ? 

Nay; it would only be an opinion founded upon 
the axiom that ''like causes produce like effects." 

5. How do Scripture-prophecies differ from these? 
They are not based upon observation or reason- 
ing, but upon absolute foreknowledge of things 
contingent. 

6. Does such foreknowledge belong to God alone ? 

It is claimed by Him absolutely and exclusively ; 
and the fictitious £ods of the heathen are challenged 
by Him to show like power. (Isa. xli. 22-23.) 

7. Mention some of the Prophecies by Moses. 

He foretold the future prosperity and woes of 
Israel through many centuries, and the coming of 
Christ. (Deut. xviii. 15; xxviii.). 



PROPHECY a Pjsoof of Ixsplratiox. 33 

8. What did la ter prophets predict con cern ing Israel f 
They foretold their apostacy and misery ; their 

captivity in Chaldea and Babylon; their return lo 
their fatherland; their overthrow and dispersion by 
the Romans; and their restoration. (2 Kings xx. 17; 
Isa. xi. 11; Jer. xx. 4; xxix. 10; Joel, ii. 3; Amos, 
vi. 8; Rom. xi.). 

9. What predictions icere recorded concerning Egypt ? 
The Persian iuvasion ; the desolation of the land ; 

and the long continued debasement of its people 
under foreign rulers, (isa. xix. 21; Jer. iv. 3; Ezek. 
xxix; xxx.). 

10. What teas foretold concerning JS'ineveh and 
Babylon f 

Their total destruction. (Isa. xiii. ; Jer. 1. ; li. ; 
Nahum, i-iii.) 

11. What was prophesied against Tyre? 

Its conquest and destruction. (Isa. xxxiii. ; Ezek, 
xxvi-xxviii.) 

12. What remarkable Prophecies by Daniel f 

He foretold the fall of rich Babylon ; the rise and 
fall of the successive empires of Medo-Persia, Mace- 
don, and Rome ; and the establishment of Christ's 
universal Kingdom. 

13. Were these prophecies concerning Judea and the 
surrounding nations literally fulfilled ? 

They were; and with marvellous accuracy, as pro- 
fane history and monumental ruins fully prove. 

II. What principal artery of prophecy runs through 
the Old Testament? 

The prophecies relating to Christ and His King- 
dom, a part of which have been fulfilled, and the 
remainder are now in rapid process of fulfillment. 

15. What prophecies are found in the JSew Testa- 
meat? 

Christ foretold the persecutions to which His 
followers would be subjected ; the fall of Jerusalem- 
the final triumph of His cause; and the end of the" 
world. (Matt, x, 17-22; xxiv.). St. Paul predicted 



34 Studies ix Christian Doctrine. 

the apostacy and rise of popery in the Church (2 
Thess ii. 3-4 ; 1 Tim. iv. 1-3 ; 2 Tim. li. 1-6); the 
conversion of the Jews (Rom. xi. 12, 23-29); and the 
second advent of Christ (2 Thess. i. 7-10). St. Peter 
foretold a time of scoffing, and the end of the world 
(2 Pet. iii. 3-10). St. Jude-and St. John prophesied, 
of the same. The prophecies in the Apocalypse, 
are comprehensive and far-reaching. 

16. What purposes do the JSew Testament prophecies 
serve? 

Those that are fulfilled prove the Divine inspira- 
tion of those who uttered them ; and those not yet 
fulfilled serve to keep alive the faith, hope, courage, 
and activity of Christians. 

17. Are the words of the Bible the veritable words of 
God? 

This can he affirmed of only those which are at- 
tributed to God : and of those we have the repre- 
sentative words in present text and translations. 
But the whole Book is God's word in that He caused 
it to be written, and that it contains a true transcript 
of His mind and will concerning us. 

Lesson 14. Truth and Excellence of the 
Bible. 

1. As proofs of its Divine origin, ichat, besides mira- 
cles and prophecy, does the Bible present? 

It presents unquestionable truthfulness in its 
reference to common secular things ; impartiality in 
delineating characters ; the purest and best precepts 
for the government of human life ; and the most 
sublime and inspiring doctrines respecting God, man, 
and the future life. 

2. Give some examples of its truthfulness in reference 
to secular things and events. 

Its reference to physical geography — mountains, 
plains, rivers, cities, to people and their occupations, 
customs and conditions, etc., are so accurate that 



Truth axd Excellence of the Bible- 35 

to this day the Bible is one of the best guide books 
to the explorer in Judea and its surrouudiug coun- 
tries : while its references to contemporaneous 
events in adjacent countries are confirmed by monu- 
mental inscriptions, ruins, and secular histories. 

3. Mention some instances of its fairness in delineating 
character? 

It records the faults of its saints and heroes, with 
the same tidelit} r vvitli which it does their virtues. 

4. Do the sacred writers appear to have been personal 
and credible witnesses of things that they describe ? 

They generally wrote as eye-witnesses ; and they 
showed extreme caution in receiving marvellous 
things from any source. (Exo. iii. 2-13 ; xxiv. 16- 
23 ; Mark. xvi. 5-14; Luke xxiv. 25 ; John xx. 25). 

5. In ichat do the moral precepts of the Bible differ 
from those found in the ethics of Christian and heathen 
lands? 

They differ in that they are broader in their scope 
and application to all mankind of every nation, age, 
and condition ; in that they aim to promote purity 
of motive, as well as righteousness of life ; and, in 
thai they are enforced as Divine requirments, for the 
neglect of which all shall give an account to God in 
the last great day. 

6. Wherein is the Bible- doctrine of God superior to the 
mews of him presented by Philosophy or Heathenism ? 

Philosophy (falsely so called) presents Deity to us 
as a force that imparted life and motion to matter; 
while the Bible presents Him as a Person who is 
infinitely wise, good, and powerful, unto whom we 
may approach in prayer, and in whom we may 
peacefully confide our hopes for this world and the 
next. Heathenism presents to us many conflicting 
gods, instead of One Supreme Being whom we may 
adoreas Creator, Sustainer, Friend and Father. 

7. What single feature of Bible-theology distinguishes 
it from, and elevates it above, all other Theologies? 

The doctrine of Divine Love — that " God so loved 



36 Studies ij* Christian Doctrine. 

the world" as to become incarnate for the redemp- 
tion of mankind. 

8. Does not Buddhism teach Divine Incarnations? 
No : Buddhism is Atheistic. Guatama, the 

Buddha, claimed to be only a man; and he is so 
regarded by his followers. 

9. Do the Anthropomorphisms of the Bible, or its 
references to God as being like man, with hands, feet, 
eye*, ears, etc., tend to materialize and degrade our 
thought of lhm? 

Not at all : on the contrary, they aid our con- 
ceptions of His powers, and are so plainly guarded 
by declarations of His Spiritual nature, that no reader 
of the Bible can be misled by them. 

10. What has been the practical influence of the Bible 
upon mankind? 

It has saved from superstition, vice, and crime ; 
it has expanded the intellect; purified the conscience 
and affections; enobled the religious faculties and 
life; lifted degraded people into refinement, dignity, 
and happiness, and made them masters in the world 
of thought, science, literature, art, invention, indus- 
try commerce, and civil power. It has also brought 
consolation to the afflicted, and given peace and 
rapturous hope to the dying. 

11. Should our faith be obstructed by the Mysteries of 
the Bible? 

Not at all : for if it had no mysteries, we might 
think it of human origin. Nature abounds in mys- 
teries, and we should expect like mysteries in the 
Book sent us by the Author of Nature. 

Lesson 15. The Bible our Rule of Faith. 

1 . What is a Bute of Faith ? 

By this phrase is meant a standard of authority in 
questions of religious belief and practice. 

2. What is the highest authority in Beligion ? 

The word of God, as found in the Bible (Isa. viii. 



The Bible our Rule of Faith. 37 

20; Luke xvi. 19-21; John vi. 39-47; 2 Tim. iii. 15- 
17). 

3. Are iheve other books deemed sacred and authorita- 
tive in religious matters? 

Such claims are made in behalf of the writings of 
Confucius, of the Buddhists and Brahmins, t lie Zend 
Avesta of the Parsees, the Koran of the Moham- 
medans, and the hook of Mormon; hut these hooks 
add nothing to the truths contained in the Bible, 
and their claims are not supported by any good evi- 
dence. 

4. Are the Apochryphal icritings of either Jews or 
Christians, of any authority in matters of faith ? 

The}^ are not ; and although entertaining, they 
mingle errors with their truths. 

5. What weight is attached to oral Traditions ? 
None whatever; for they are always liable to 

exaggerations, and cannot be verified, like writings. 

6. Have oral traditions ever proved injurious? 

The Jews of our Lord's time were misled by them 
(Matt. xv. 3-6), and both Greek and Roman Christians 
have been led into many superstitions by them. 

7. Have the writings of the early Christian fathers 
any authority in religious questions ? 

Only such as belong to them as evidence of facts 
which the} r witnessed. Doctrinally. they only repre- 
sent the private opinions of their uninspired 
authors; and some of those opinions are evidently 
erroneous. 

8. Have Councils of the Church, or of any branch of 
it. authority in questions of faith? 

They have a right to formulate, and declare their 
faith, in creeds and confessions; but these creeds 
bind none but those who choose to accept them as 
fair statements of Bible-doctrines. 

9. Have ministers of religion, or schools of Theology, 
any authority over our faith ? 

No: they are only ambassadors of God sent forth 
to proclaim His truth and to persuade others to 



38 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

examine and accept it (Isa. viii. 20; Matt, xxviii. 20; 
Acts xvii. 11; 2 Cor. i. 24; v. 20). 

10. What is the office of Reason in relic/ion f 

It is to examine evidences and doctrines — compar- 
ing Scripture with Scripture, and interpreting the 
same in accordance with the laws of language. 

11. Has every one the right to investigate truth and to 
form his own opinions? 

He lias not only the right, but the Scriptures make 
it his duty to " search" and to "prove all tilings" 
(John v. 39; 1 Thess. v. 21 : 1 Pet. iii. 15) 

12. Js Reason alone sufficient to guide as in religious 
matters? 

No. It deals with facts and their logical relations; 
hut the facts in this case, concerning God, the 
soul, and eternity, must come from Divine revela- 
tion. 

13. Have evil* followed the attempts to substitute Rea- 
son for Revelation ? 

Innumerable and great evils have always followed 
such attempts. The Scribes in our Lord's time fell 
into this trap of Satan (Matt. xv. 6; Luke vii. 30). 
The French of 1780-1800, were carried by ibis de- 
lusion into the Keign of Terror: and in our times 
the Skeptic and criminal classes show how danger- 
ous it is to reject the Word of God. 

14. Is the Bible contrary to Reason ? 

Not at all. It has its imcomprehensible things, 
just as Nature has; and we may never be able to 
understand it fully any more than we can under- 
stand Nature. But the noblest and grandest intel- 
lects among Statesmen, Jurists, Scientists, and Schol- 
ars have yielded full assent to the Scriptures as 
being consistent with the highest demands of Rea- 
son. 



Christ in the Early Ages. 39 



Lesson 16. Christ in the Early Ages. 

1 . What Spiritual treasure did our first parents carry 
with them out of Paradise ? 

The hope of redemption inspired by the Promise 
of Christ — the Woman's Conquering Seed. 

2. What religious rite was then instituted to remind 
the infrequently of this promise f 

The rite of animal sacririce. (Gen. iii. 21; iv. 3-5; 
Ileb. xi. 4.) 

3. Is it probable that the early inhabitants of the 
world understood the meaning of this rite? 

Perhaps not fully; but the nearly universal custom 
of offering sacrifices shows that they apprehended 
the facts that sin brought death into the world; that 
some expiation of it was demanded; and that God 
would accept a substitutionary offering, either that 
of the beast offered, or one of whom its blood was a 
symbol. 

4. Were regular seasons set apart for sacrifices and 
religions worship? 

The Sabbath, or every Seventh-day, was thus set 
apart and hallowed. (Gen. ii. 3.) 

5. What evidences of religions devotion and of faith 
in the coming Christ, do ice find in the early ages? 

A\ r e find their fruits or effects in the piety and em- 
inence of Abel, Enoch, and Noah, and in the declara- 
tion of St. Paul, that they became eminent through 
faith. (Heb. xi.) 

6. Who teas Abel? 

He was the second son of Adam, noted for his 
piety, and approval of God, though hated and killed 
by his wicked brother. (Gen. iv. 1-8; Heb. xi. 4; 
Matt, xxiii. 35.) 

7. Who was Enoch ? 

He was a patriarch, in the seventh generation from 
Adam; and noted for his walk (or fellowship) with 
God for three hundred years, and for his translation 



40 Studies in Christian Doctrixe. 

to Heaven without passing through death. (Gen. v. 
18, 21-24; Heb. xi. 5, 6; Jude 14-15.) 
8 Who teas Aoah f 
He was a great-grandson of Enoch, and noted as 
one whom God declared to he "just and perfect," 
and one that found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 
(Gen. vi. 8, 9.) 

9. What was the character of mankind generally in 
those ages ? 

With the exception of the line of patriarchs reach- 
ing from Adam through Seth down to Noah, the 
other inhabitants became exceedingly corrupt, and 
the earth was filled with violence. (Gen. vi. 5, 12.) 

1 0. What had preserved patriarchal families from this 
general corruption ? 

Their faith in the coming Christ. 

11. What revelation did God make to Noah? 

He revealed to him His purpose of destroying the 
inabitants of the earth with the Deluge, and His 
purpose of saving him and his family by means of 
the Ark which He instructed him to build. (Gen. vi. 
13-18.) 

12. Did Noah obey God's instructions? 

" According to all that God commanded him, so 
did he." (Gen. vi. 22.) 

13. I low large was the ark, buvt by him? 

It was about the size of the greatest vessel in the 
world — the Great Eastern— being about 500 feet long, 
83 feet wide, and 50 feet in depth, having on its 
several decks about 125,000 square feet, or nearly 
three acres of surface. 

14. How long was he engaged in this work? 
Apparently one hundred and twenty years. 

15. Was anything done for the saUation of sinners 
during that long period ? 

Yes. Noah preached righteousness to them, and 
Christ, by His Spirit, preached to them " while the 
ark was preparing. (Gen. vi. 3; 1 Pet. iii. 18-20; 2 
Pet. ii. 5 ) 



Chetst ix the Abeaha^iig Family. 41 

16. Did the Deluge come as threatened ? 

Yes : it swept over the then inhabited world — 
which may have included only the plains of Soul hern 
Asia, that the Indian Ocean could easily overflow; 
and it destroyed the ungodly. (Gen. vii. 17-22; Matt. 
xxiw 37-39.) 

1 7. Whut religions act did Noah perform immediately 
offer leaving the Ark? 

" He offered sacrifices and worshipped God. (Gen. 
viii. 20.) 

Lesson 17. Christ en the Abrahamic Family. 

1. Who was the Abraham of Bible-renown f 

He was a descendant of Noah in the eleventh gen- 
eration, horn in the region of the Euphrates river, 
about 500 years after the flood, 2()0U years b c, and 
called of God to fount) the Hebrew nation. 

2. What was the character of mankind generally, 
after the terror of the flood passed away f 

God said that "the imagination of man's heart is 
evil;" and He issued special commands for restrain- 
ing their fierce appetites and passions. (Gen. ix. 
4-6.) 

3. What foolish thing did they attempt at Babel? 
They attempted to build a tower so high that no 

flood could overwhelm it, and to which they might 
rally in case of disaster. (Gen. .\i. 1-4.) 

4. What resulted from this folly f 

God rebuked them, confounded their language, 
and scattered them abroad. (Gen. xi. 5-9.) 

5. In their dispersion, what did they become f 

They "became vain in their imaginations," idola- 
trous, and increasingly wicked. (Josh. xxiv. 2; 
Horn. i. 18-31.) 

6 What measure did God then take for preserving 
true religion and the hope of a Saviour f 

He called Abraham away from his idolatrous asso- 
ciations to found a religious nation which, under 
4 



42 Studies i]sr Christian Docthixe. 

His special providence and blessing, might honor 
Him by receiving and preserving the truth that He 
revealed to man. (Gen. xii, 1-3; Heb. xi. 8-10.) 

7. Why wu* Abram called to this honor? 
Because of his piety and vigorous character. (Gen. 

xviii. 19.) 

8. What promises did God make to him ? 

He promised to give to him and to his posterity, 
the laud of Canaan; to bless him and make him a 
blessing; and that in his Seed all the families of the 
earth should be blessed. (Gen. xii. 1-3; xv. 5, 6; 
xvii. 1-8; xxii. 1-18.) 

9. Who, in particular, teas meant by Ms Seed? 
Jesus Christ — the Saviour. (John viii. 56; Gal. 

iii. 16.) 

10. Did the A brahamic family settle in Canaan? 
They wandered about in it through many } r ears 

and then went into Egypt where they were held in 
bond a ire a long time, so that more than 500 years 
elapsed between the gift and the fulfillment of the 
promise. 

11. What was accomplished by this long delay? 

The faith of the patriarchs was tested and strength- 
ened; they became better acquainted with God; lhey 
were kept separated from heathen affiliations and in- 
fluences; and, by their long servitude in Egypt, they 
were weaned from their nomadic habits and were 
trained in the arts and habits of civilized life. 

12. To what test teas Abraham's faith subjected? 

To the test of patient waiting until he was a hun- 
dred years old for the birth of his heir and successor; 
and also to the test of sacrifice, in being called to 
offer up his Isaac to God. (Gen. xxii.) 

13. What resulted from these extraordinary trials? 
"Abraham believed God and it w 7 as accounted 

unto him for righteousness" (Rom. iv. 9-22): he also 
received renewed promises and revelations from God. 
(Gen. xxii. 18; Heb. vi. 13-20; xi. 8-19.) 

14. What is notable in the revelations that he received? 



Christ ix Mosaic Rites and Types. 43 

His clearer views of the coming Christ— God's 
only-begotten Son, to be a sin-offering for mankind; 
and his glimpse of the resurrection from death. 
15. Did Isaac follow the example of Ids father? 

He was a devout and just man (Gen. xxiv. 63: xxv. 
11-21; xxvi. 1-5. 18-33), and God renewed the prom- 
ise to him. (Gen. xxvi. 1-5.) 
16 What religious experience did Jacob have ? 

When a young man, lie had a celestial vision and 
heard the voice of God in renewed promises (Gen. 
xxviii. 10-15); and in his maturer years he spent an 
anxious night in prayer and gained a great blessing. 
(Gen. xxxii. 24-30; Hosea xii. 4, 5 ) 
17. What truths were taught in these incidents? 

The truth that God is faithful to His promises, 
and that He can be approached in prayer by devout 
and importunate souls that seek, at the same time, 
to be just towards men. 

Lesson 18. Christ in Mosaic Rites and Types. 

1. How Jong did the Hebrews stay in Egypt? 
Probably not more than 250 years, for they left 

"in the fourth generation." (Gen. xv. 13-16; Exo. 
vi. 16-20.) 

2. How numerous had they become? 

Moses says " 600.000" — an extraordinary inert ase, 
even if we allow two generations younger than that 
of Moses. (Exo. i. 7.') 

3. W7iat was their condition in Egypt? 

Thev were held as slaves, and were greatly op- 
pressed. (Exo. i. 7-16; ii. 23-25.) 

4. How were they delivered from Egypt? 

By the hand of Moses, one of their kindred, who 
was providentially prepared for the work and 
prompted to it by revelations from God. (Ex. ii., iiL, 
iv.) 

5. What agencies were vsed by him ? 

By miraculous powers he convinced the Egyptians 



44 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

that he was God's ambassador, and lie enforced his 
demands for their release, by bringing upon the 
Egyptians annoy big and destructive plagues, in the 
last of which the first-born in every house died. 
(Exo. vii-xii.) 

6. How were the Hebrews shielded from the death- 
plague? 

Through their faith and obedience, shown in the 
sprinkling of the blood of the paschal lamb upon 
their door-posts as God had commanded them. (Exo. 
xii.) 

7. What Jewish festival commemorates that event ? 
The Passover (Exo. xii. 1-24), and it is still ob- 
served. 

8. Of what was the paschal lamb typical? 

It typified "the Lamb of God " — "our Passover, 
sacrificed for us." (John i. 29; 1 Cor. v. 7; 1 John 
i. 7.) 

9. Whither did the Hebrews go from Kgypt? 

Led by a cloud that went before them by day and 
lit up their camp by night, they journeyed to the 
Red Sea. through which a passage was miraculously 
opened for them; and thence passed into the Sinailic 
region of Arabia, where they remained for a year. 
(Exo. xiv. xix.) 

10. 11 ow were they provisioned in the desert? 
Partly by their abundant flocks and herds, and 

partly by manna, that nightly fell about their camp, 
and was a nutritious substitute for bread. (Exo. x. 
26; xii. 88; xvi. 2-18; Josh. v. 12.) 

11. Of what was the manna typical? 

It typified Christ "the true bread from heaven," 
who gives life to the world. (John vi. 31-51 ) 
12 What revelations did God make at Sinai? 
At an appointed time, He appeared to them in a 
cloud of glory, and in a voice from heaven gave 
them His ten commandments. (Exo. xix. 20.) 
13. What do these commandments forbid? 
They forbid the worship of imaginary gods; the 



Christ in Hebrew Prophecy. 45 

worship of images or pictures of God ; the profana- 
tion of His name; the desecration of the Sabbath by 
ordinary labor; all crimes against persons arid prop- 
erty; and all falsehood and covetousness. 

14. What is required in these commandments f 
They require the worship of God as the Supreme; 

that His Sabbaths be kept holy or devoted to relig- 
ious exercises; and that children honor their parents. 

15. What other laws did God give at Sinai? 

He gave laws relating to their social and civil State, 
and to their religious rites, ceremonies, and duties. 
10. Are those laws still m force? 

The principles of jusiice, mercy, truth, and piety 
which they contain are binding upon all men; but 
the forms of them were local, or limited to the Jew- 
ish people and dispensation. (Heb. vii. 18-28, viii. 
10.) 

17. Of what icere Jewish sacrifices typical? 

They pointed to Christ, who alone by His own 
blood could make expiation for human sin. (Rom. 
iii. 23-26; Heb. ix. 22.) 

18. To what did the washings and cleansings point ? 
They pointed to the spiritual purification to be 

effected by the Spirit and truth of Christ. (Heb. ix. 
11-14.) 

19. What did the priesthood and tabernacle represent ? 
They represented the priesthood of Christ, and 

the Heavenly world into which He has gone to plead 
for us, and into which He will bring all who trust 
in and obey Him. 

Lesson 19. Christ in Hebrew Prophecy. 

1. What prophecy of Christ did Jacob utter? 

He said that "the Sceptre shall not depart from 
Judah until Shiloh (the Messiah) come," and that 
"to Him shall the gathering of the people be." 
(Gen. xlix. 10.) 

2. What prediction of Him did Moses give ? 



46 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

He said that " a Prophet shall be raised up like un- 
to me, and to Him shall ye hearken" — as a law- 
giver. (Deut. xviii. 15-18; Matt. xxi. 11; Acts iii. 
20-26.) 

3. What did Job say of Christ ? 

"I know that my Redeemer liveth, and in the 
latter days He shall stand upon the earth " etc. (Job 
xix. 25.) 

4. What teas foretold of Christ in the Psalms? 
That He should be a " Son of David" (Ixxii. 1); 

"Son of God" (ii. 7, 8); "the cornerstone" (cxviii. 
22, 23); "a priest forever" (ex. 4); be betrayed 
(xli. 9); accused by false witnesses (xxxv. 11); His 
hands and feet be pierced (xxii. 16); His garments be 
distributed by lot (xxii. 18); gall and vinegar be of- 
fered Him (lxix. 21); His death should be voluntary 
(xxxi. 5); He should not be left to corruption in the 
grave (xvi. 10; Ixviii. 18); and that He should arise 
and reign forever, (ex. 1; Ixxii. 8-11, 17-19.) 

5. What did Amos prophecy concerning Him? 
That He should exalt the house of David, (ix. 11.) 

6. What was foretold of Him by Isaiah? 

That He should be iu David's line (xi. 1-3); be 
born of a Virgin (vii. 14); be called Immanuel and a 
stone of stumbling (vii. 14; viii. 14); be called Won- 
derful. Counsellor, the Mighty God and Prince of 
Peace (ix. 6, 7); be a light to the Gentiles (ix. 12; xii. 
1-6); make a feast for His followers (xxv. 6-9); make 
the deserts rejoice (xxxv. 1, 2); be the Good Shep- 
herd (xl. 1-11); the delight of God and man (xlii. 1- 
4); die as an offering for sin (liii.); be the only Saviour 
of man (lix, 16-21; Ixiii. 1-3); and should create new 
heavens and earth, (lxi. 1-3; lxv. 17.) 

7. What titles did Jeremiah give to Christ? 

He called Him " the Hope and Saviour of Israel," 
" the Lord our "Righteousness," "the strong Re- 
deemer." (xiv. 8;xxiii.5, 6; 1. 34.) 

8. What did Ezekiel foretell of the Christian age? 



Chkist in Hebrew Prophecy. 47 

That God would then pour out His Spirit and save 
mankind, (xxxvi. 25-27; xxxvii. 21-28.) 
9. What did Daniel predict of Christ f 
The time of His coming; the triumph of His king- 
dom; and the Resurrection and Judgment of man 
(ii. 44, 45; vii. 27: ix. 24-26, xii. 2, 3.") 
J 0. Wh a t did Joel foretell ? 
The £ift or the Holy Ghost, (ii 28-32.) 

11. w/mt did Alicah prophecy of Him ? 

That He should be born in Bethlehem and should 
restore pure religion and peace to man. (iv. 1; v. 
2-4.) 

12. What was Jlabakkuk's prophecy f 

He foretold the universality of Christ's dominion, 
(ii. 1-4; iii. 2.) 

13. What did Zephaniali predict of Jlim ? 

Great joy in Heaven and earth occasioned by His 
works, (lii. 14-17.) 

14. How did llaggai describe Him? 

As "the Desire of all carious'' who should "fill 
the temple with the greatest glory." (ii. 6-9.) 

15. What icere ZechariaTCs prophecies of Him? 
That He should be of David's line; a King, meek 

and lowly (vi. 12; ix. 9); a Fountain for washing 
away sin (xiii. 1); the Shepherd smitten (xiii. 7); the 
creat Reformer, whose work should result in holi- 
ness, (xii. 8-10; xiv. 20.) 

16. What did Malachi predict of Christ and His fore- 
runner? 

He foretold His coming as "the Sun of Righteous- 
ness " to purify His people; and that His herald 
(John the Baptist) should turn many to righteous- 
ness, (iii. 1-3; iv. 2-6.) 

17. What influence did these prophecies exert vpon 
the Jeicish people? 

They aided in keeping them separate from heathen 
nations, and in fostering an expectation of the com- 
ing Redeemer; they also led many to saintliness of 



48 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

character, and prepared many others to receive Christ 
when He came. 
18. What purposes do these prophecies now serve? 
They stand as witnesses to the Divine inspiration 
of the Book in which they are found; they shed 
light upon the person and offices of Christ, and they 
foster expectations of the final triumph of Christian- 
ity, and of the universal coronation of its adorable 
Author. 

Lesson 20. Christ's Advent and Childhood. 

1. Where and when teas Christ born f 

In Bethlehem of Judea (Matt. ii. 1; Luke ii. 4-7), 
nearly nineteen centuries ago, and 4,000 years after 
the first promise of Him was given. 

2. Why the long delay of His coming f 

Because that previous to that time mankind were 
not prepared to receive Him. 

3. What preparation had then been made f 

The Jews, and others, had been educated to ap- 
proach God by means of expiatory sacrifices; a con- 
viction of sin and of the need of an atonement had 
been created; false religions had been effectually 
tried and proved worthless; expectation of the com- 
ing Redeemer had become wide-spread; and the 
moral, social and civil condition of the people in 
Bible-lands was favorable to the introduction of a 
higher theology and pure Religion. 

4. Had the ISceptre than departed from Judahf 

No. The Jewish nation still existed with its king 
who was of Jewish descent on his mother's side — 
and probably on his father's also. 

5. What incidents heralded the Advent of Christ? 
An angel appeared to a priest in the temple an- 
nouncing the coming of John the forerunner of 
Jesus; and six months later he appeared to the Vir- 
gin Mary of Nazareth, announcing that she was to 
become the mother of Christ (Luke i.); and both of 



Christ's Adyext axd Childhood. 49 

the persons thus visited became Divinely inspired 
prophets. 

6. What is recorded of Christ's parentage ? 

His mother was of the royal line of David; and 
her conception of this child was miraculous. She 
was espoused to Joseph — a kinsman of the same 
family, whom she afterwards married. 

7. What celestial appearance attended the birth of 
Christ? 

Angelic hosts appeared to pious shepherds in fields 
near by: told them of His birth and character, and 
sang praises to God. (Luke ii. 8-14.) 

8. What did the Shepherds then do ? 

They went into the town; found the child as de- 
scribed by the angels; worshiped Him; and then told 
the parents and manv others what they had seen and 
heard. (Luke ii. 15-20.) 

9. What religions rites were done for the child? 

On the eighth day He was circumcised and named 
Jesus (Saviour); and on the fortieth day. He was 
presented in the Temple as the consecrated first-born 
(Gen. xvii. 10-12; Exo. xiii. 2: Luke ii. 21-38.) At 
this presentation, two venerable saints discerned the 
character of the child and uttered remarkable pre- 
dictions concerning Him. 

10. What noted persons soon visited Tlimf 

Wise men — Magians, from the East country, who 
were led to Him by a prophetic star, and who wor- 
shiped Him and s:ave Him princely presents. (Numb, 
xxiv. 17; Matt. ii. 1-12.) 

11. What danger then threatened the child? 

King Herod, moved with jealousy, sent assassins 
to slay all the male infants in Bethlehem. (Matt. ii. 
16-18.) 

12. How was the child saved from this peril? 

His parents, warned of God in a night-vision, has- 
tened witli Him to Eirvpt. where they remained un- 
til after the death of Herod. (Matt. ii. 19-21.) 

13. What more is recorded of the childhood of Jesus? 
4 



50 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

He was carried by His parents from Egypt into 
Nazareth of Galilee, where He grew bodily and men- 
tally, and gave evidence that " the grace of God was 
upon Him." At twelve years of age He went with 
them to Jerusalem, where He was found among the 
learned, astonishing them with His answers and 
questions. (Luke ii. 41-47.) 

14. What question of 1 lis, asked of Bis mother at that 
time, has been recorded and preserved ? 

He asked: " Wist } r e not that I must be about my 
Father's business." (Luke ii. 49.) And this implied 
a consciousness of His Divine sonship and mission 
to mankind. 

15. After this what teas His history? 

He returned to Nazareth with His parents, and 
grew up to manhood, in wisdom and favor with 
God and man. (Luke ii. 51, 52.) 

Lesson 21. Christ begins His Ministry. 

1. WJien did Christ begin His Ministry? 

When He was about thirty years of age. (Luke iii. 
23.) 

2. What scholastic training did He receive? 

None whatever from the schools. (John vii. 15). 

3. How teas He inducted into His sacred office ? 

By baptism at the hand of John — as Jewish priests 
were washed when consecrated. (Exod. xxix. 4; 
Matt. iii. 13-15.) 

4. What extraordinary occurrences at His baptism ? 
An extraordinary light shone in the sky; a lumi- 
nous form like a dove descended and rested upon 
Him; and a voice from Heaven was heard proclaim- 
ing: " This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well 
pleased." (Matt. iii. 16-17; 2 Pet i. 16-17.) 

5. What was John's official relation to Christ? 

He was the last and greatest of the Hebrew 
prophets, who had been foretold by others as the 
herald of Christ and the one commissioned to prepare 



Christ begixs His Ministby. 51 

the way before Him. (Isa. xl. 3; Mai. iii. 1; iv. 
5-6; Matt. xi. 7-14.) 

6. What conflict awaited Jesus after His baptism? 

A conflict with subtle temptations. (Matt. iv. 
1-10.) 

7. Mention some of those temptations. 

One was to create bread from stones, to appease 
His hunger after His forty days of fasting ; another 
was to leap from a pinnacle of the temple for the 
purpose of creating a popular sensation, presump- 
tuously trusting to a suspension of a law of nature 
for His preservation; the third one was to pay hom- 
age to Satan for his voluntary surrender of his 
dominion in Bible-lauds. 

8. Hold icere these temptations met f 

By a pure and resolute soul exerting its best 
powers and using the word of God as its shield. 

9. What followed His victory over evil? 

Amrels from Heaven came to comfort and refresh 
him (Matt. iv. 11.) 

10. Thus strengthened, what did Jesus then do ? 

He began to preach, saying: "Repent: for the 
kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Luke iv. 14-15.) 

11. What was His manner of preaching f 

He read and explained the Holy Scriptures; taught 
the highest truths concerning God, man, and eternity; 
corrected popular errors; appealed to conscience; 
and by parable and incident endeavored to arouse 
and hold the popular attention. 

12. What was the text of His first discourse? 

He read Isa. lxi. 1-3, and interpreted it as 
Messianic and then fulfilled. (Luke iv. 16-21.) 

13. What did Christ say of His ministry ? 

He said that he came "not to be ministered unto, 
but to minister and to give His life a ransom;" "came 
not to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance;" 
"came to seek and save the lost." (Matt. ix. 13; 
xx. 28; Luke xix. 10.) 



52 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

14! What did Christ's friends say of His preach- 
ing? 

They said that "His word was with power;" "that 
He taught as one having authority;" and that " the 
common people heard Him gladly and wondered at 
His gracious words." (Matt. vii. 28-29; Mark vi. 2; 
Luke iv. 22; John iii. 2.) 

15. What did His enemies admit ? 

They conceded that "He taught the way of God 
perfectly;" that '• never man spake like this man;" 
and " they were astonished at His wisdom and 
learning" (Matt. xiii. 54; Luke xx. 21; John vii. 
15, 46.) 

16. From what class did Christ win llis earliest and 
devoted followers ? 

From among the disciples of John the Baptist, 
who felt their need of a Saviour. (John i. 35-46.) 

17. Who were the least inclined to listen to Him ? 
Those who were looking only for a secular 

Messiah to promote their national and w T orldly in- 
terests, and who were so formal in religion as to 
ignore its spiritual life. 

18. How was He treated by litis class f 

With secret hostility ; captious criticism ; hypo- 
critical attentions; and, finally, with the greatest in- 
dignities they causing his arrest, mockery, abuse, 
and crucifixion. 



Lesson 22. Christ, the Great Teacher. 

1. What was the scope of Christ's teachings? 

It comprehended all important truths concerning 
God and man, time and eternity. 

2. What did He teach concerning God? 

He taught the Unity and Spiritual nature of God 
(Mark xii. 29; John iv. 24); that He is unknowable 
except as revealed by Him (Matt. xi. 27) ; the 
Creator and Provider (Matt. vi. 25-80; xix. 4); 



Christ, the Great Teacher. 53 

that He is love and merciful (John iii. 16; 
Luke vi. 36; Matt. v. 45); that He hears and an- 
swers prayer (Matt. vii. 7-11); and that He is just, 
holy, and "perfect. (Matt. v. 48; John xvii. 11.) 

3. What did He teach concerning Man's origin, na- 
ture, stale, and denting ? 

He taught that God created him (Mark x. 6); that 
He is compounded of soul and body (Matt. x. 22; 
Luke xx. 36); that his nature is depraved (Mark vii. 
21); that he needs a Healer and Regenerator (Malt. 
ix. 12; John iii. 5); that he is capable of discerning 
and obeying the truth (Luke xii. 56-57; John v. 40) ; 
that he is in danger of endless loss and ruin (Mark 
iii. 29; Luke ix. 25; Matt. xxv. 46); that in death, 
the soul is conscious of joy and pain (Matt. xxii. 32; 
Luke xvi. 19-26); that he shall be raised from death, 
be judged for his conduct in this life, and be 
rewarded or punished forever. (John v. 28; Matt. 
xxv. 31-46.) 

4. What did Christ teach concerning Himself? 

He declared His Divine Sonship(Mark xiv. 61-62; 
Luke xxii. 70; John ix. 35-37); His Oneness with 
God (John x. 30; xiv. 10, 11); His Omnipotence, 
Omniscience, and Omnipresence (Matt. ix. 4; xxviii. 
18; John iii. 13); His authority to forgive sin (Matt, 
ix. 6, 7); that He is the light of the world and 
Redeemer of man (John viii. 12; Matt. xx. 28); that 
He is the One who will bring back the dead to life 
and judge them in the last day. (John v. 21-22; xi. 
25.) 

5. What did Christ say of the Holy Ghost? 

He taught that it proceeded from God the Father, 
being sent by the Father and the Son, and is one 
with the Father and the Son (Matt, xxviii. 19; John 
xv. 26; xvi. 7); that unpardonable sin may be com- 
mitted against Him (Mark iii. 29); that He would 
come to convince (convict) the world of sin, of 
righteousness, and of judgment, and to regenerate 
souls (John iii. 5; xvi. 8); and would be the com- 



54 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

forter and inspirerof the saints. (Luke xii. 12; John 
xlv. 26; Acts i. 8.) 

6. What did Christ say of the Scripture* ? 

He taught that they are of God, a sufficient guide 
to man. and should be searched and obeyed. (Matt, 
xxii. 29-32; Luke xvi. 31; John v. 37-39.) 

7. What religious ordinances and institutions did Re 
enjoin f 

He ordained a Ministry with a commission to dis- 
ciple all nations, baptizing and uniting them in 
church fellowship; the proper observance of the 
Sabbath; the maintenance of the holy communion 
in remembrance of Him (Matt. xxvi. 26-29; xxviii. 
19; Markii. 27-28; Luke xiii. 10); and He empha- 
sized the sacred ness of the marriage covenant. 
(Matt, v. 31-32; xix. 3-9 ) 

8. What did He teach concerning His Ministers f 
They must be Divinely called and qualified (John 

xv. 16; Matt. x. 20; Luke xxiv. 49; Acts i. 8); that 
they should maintain equality and fraternity among 
themselves (Matt, xxiii. 8-12; Luke xxii. 24-26); 
and that they should be itinerants, going into all 
the world to preach the Gospel to all mankind. 
(Matt, xxviii. 19-20.) 

9 What did Christ teach concerning J lis Church? 
He taught that it is founded upon the Hock of His 
recognized Deity, and cannot be overthrown (Matt. 
xvi. 16-18); that it shall prevail in prayer and have 
authority of counsel and discipline (Matt, xviii. 15- 
18); that it is the light of the world and salt of the 
earth (Matt. v. 13-16); and that it must maintain 
love and unity in itself. (John xvii. 20-23.) 

10. What icere Christ's ethical or moral teachings f 
He taught that mankind should do unto others 
what they would like to have others do unto them 
in like circumstances; that they should overcome 
evil with good ; be charitable in their judgments 
towards others; be generous to the poor and needy; 
be exemplary in their lives; be careful of their 



Christ's Mighty TTorks. 55 

words and thoughts; and must aim at the highest 
standard of righteousness. (Matt. v. 16, 20, 28, 
42-48; vii. 1-5, 12, 36; Luke x. 25-27.) 



Lesson 23. Christ's Mighty Works. 

1. What remarkable works were wrought by our Lord 

in connection with His public teaching f 

Miracles of power over matter, mind, and natural 
laws; and these were generally wrought by a simple 
word of command. 

2. How were they described by witnesses? 

They were called "mighty works, which no man 
could do, except God be with him." (Matt. xi. 20; 
xiii. 54; Mark vi. 2, 14; Luke ix. 43; xix. 37; John 
iii. 2.) 

3. Were these miracles wrought in public, or before 
competent witnesses ? 

They were: and usually in open day. 

4. Were the Gospel-writers competent witnesses, judges, 
and recorders of these miracles? 

They were so esteemed by their con tern noraries; 
and the facts of their records were not del i nl. 

5. W/iat power over natural la ids did Chrut (Xhibit? 
Pie walked on the sea in defiance of the laws of 

gravitation; He subdued the winds and waves by 
His word; He multiplied bread and flesh by His 
blessing, so that the handful of a lad was made suf- 
ficient for 5000 men. (Matt. xiv. 15-33; xv. 32-38; 
John vi. 16-21.) 

6. What power did Tie wield over disease? 

At His word, fevers, paralysis, hemorrhage, lep- 
rosy, "and all manner of diseases" fled from their 
victims. (Matt. iv. 23; viii. 5-13; Mark ii. 1-12; v. 
25-34; Luke xvii. 11-19.) 

7. J fad He poicer over bodily defects ? 

At His word, the blind received sight, the deaf 
heard, the lame walked, the dumb spake, and with- 



56 Studies in Chkistian Doctrine. 

ered hands became sound. (Matt. xi. 5; xii. 10, 22; 
John v. 2-8.) 

8. What power did lie wield over mental derange- 
ment ? 

He healed many lunatics, some of whom were 
furious in their insanity; and from many who were 
regarded as demoniacs or possessed with devils He 
cast out the evil spirits with His word. (Matt. viii. 
28-33: ix. 32; xvii. 15-18; Luke xiii. 32.) 

9. What sti an ge thing happened to a herd of swine, 
in connection toith one of Christ's miracles? 

They were seized with a sudden madness and 
rushed into the sea, where they were drowned, (Mark 
v. 1-16.) 

10. Why did Christ suffer this destruction ofthesioine? 
Probablj r as a rebuke to their owners who were 

keeping tbem for food contrary to the law, and who 
were more concerned about their property than their 
souls. 

11. Did Christ display any power over death? 

By His word, death surrendered his dominion 
over the daughter of Jairus, the son of the widow 
of Nain, and the beloved Lazarus of Bethany. 
(Luke vii. 11-15; viii. 49-55; John xi. 14, 38-44.) 

12. Which was the greatest of J lis Miracles? 

His own resurrection from death. (Matt, xxvii. 
63: xxviii. 1-10; John x. 18; 1 Cor. xv. 1-8 ) 

13. Were His miracles of a benevolent character? 
Nearly all of them were for the relief of human 

suffering or for supplying wants that were pressing. 
His destruction of the barren fig-tree and the destruc- 
tion of the swine, which He suffered demons to ac- 
complish, were done as admonitory lessons aiming at 
the good of His disciples. 

14. Did He avow a distinct moral purpose in connec- 
tion with any miracle? 

He healed a paralytic at Capernaum, to prove that 
He had Divine power, and therefore authority to 
pardon sins against God. (Matt. ix. 1-6.) 



Closing Scenes in Christ's Ministry. 57 

15. What is proved by His Mighty Works ? 
They proved that He was truly Supreme over 
Nature, "the Mighty God" — "the Prince of Peace" 
— ,4 a Prophet mighty iu word and deed before God 
and the people." (Isa. ix. 6; Luke xxiv. 19; John 
ii. 23;} 

Lesson 24. Closing Scenes in Christ's 
Ministry. 

1. How long did Christ's Ministry continue? 
Probably three and a half years, as is indicated in 

the Gospels, b} r references to the annual festivals. 

2. Where did He spend the last week of it ? 
In and near Jerusalem. 

8 What notable tilings occurred in that time? 
His triumphant entrance into the city; His dis- 
courses in the temple; His prophecy of the city's de- 
struction; the anointing of Him at Bethany; His 
prediction of His coming death and resurrection; 
His observance of the Passover, at which He insti- 
tuted the holy communion, and gave remarkable 
words of cheer to His disciples; His great agony in 
Gethsemane, where He was betrayed and arrested. 
(Matt, xxvi.; John xiv.-xviii.) 

4. Wnat led to Christ's arrest? 

The jealousy of the Jewish priests and rabbins, 
who feared that the multitudes who followed Christ 
would forsake the temple. (Matt, xxvii. 18; John 
xi. 48: xii. 19.) 

5. What occurred at the time of His arrest ? 

Some who were foremost in the mob were over- 
awed by His presence and prostrated themselves be- 
fore Him; Peter drew a sword in His defence with 
which he struck off the ear of an assailant; Christ 
ordered him to sheathe his sword, surrendered Him- 
self to His enemies, and then healed, by miracle, their 
wounded man. 

6. Before idiom was Christ arraigned? 



58 Studies ix Christian Doctrine. 

Before Annas and Caiaphas — the real and nominal 
high-priests. (John xviii. 12-14, 28.) 

7. Of what teas lie accused ? 

Of speaking against the temple and threatening 
its destruction, and also of blasphemy in assuming 
to be the Christ — the Sou of God. (Matt. xxvi. 57- 
65; Luke xxii. 66-71.) 

8. Were these charges sustained ? 

No, not even by the false witnesses that had been 
hired; yet He was condemned, and delivered over 
to Pilate, the Roman Governor, for sentence and 
capital punishment. 

9. What judgment did Pilate pass upon the case? 
He examined it, and declared that nothing had 

been proved against the prisoner; and then sent Him 
back to the court of the priests. 

10. What next was done with Christ? 

The priests sent him back to Pilate, clamoring for 
His condemnation; Pilate sent him to Herod, the 
king of Galilee and Perea, who was then in Jerusa- 
lem ; Herod undertook to question Him, but, as Christ 
gave him uo answer, He was maltreated and sent 
back to Pilate, who was overcome by the clamor and 
threats of His accusers, and at last, for his own se- 
em ity in office, after declaring Christ's innocence 
and his own, he delivered Him to the soldiers to be 
crucified. 

11. What indignities icere then heaped upon Christ? 
Hew r as smiiten and spit upon; enrobed with mock 

majesty; crowned with thorns; scourged with rods; 
mocked; and then made to bear His heavy cross, upon 
which lie was crucified between two malefactors. 
(Luke xxii. 63; xxiii. 11, 33; John xix. 25.) 

12. What occurred ichile lie hung on the cross? 
The rabble passed before Him, mocking His agony; 

His friends bewailed Him; one of the malefactors 
repented and implored Ilis mercy; He commended 
His mother to the care of His beloved disciple; a 
dense darkness overspread the laud, which was shaken 



Death and Resurrection of Christ. 59 

by an earthquake, when Jesus cried: "It is finished! 
Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit." 

13. lloic long did Jesus hang on the cross? 
Three or lour hours. (Luke xxiii. 44-46.) 

14. J low was it that lie died so soon f 

It was in consequence of the voluntary surrender 
of His life as a ''propitiation for our sins." (John 
x. 18; 1 Johuii. 2.) 



Lesson 25. Death, Resurrection, and Ascen- 
sion of Christ. 

1. Did Christ truly die on the cross f 

So the official examiners declared, and no one 
doubted the fact at that time. (Mark xv. 43-45.) 

2. What was done witli His dead, body? 

Friendly hands partially embalmed it, and laid it in 
a rock-hewn tomb, which was closed by a great 
stone, sealed by a government seal, and guarded by 
soldiers. (Matt, xxvii. 62-66; John xix. 38-42.) 

3. Why was J lis tomb sealed and guarded? 

To prevent any removal of the body and to refute 
any claim of His resurrection. 

4. While His body lay entombed, where teas His 
spirit ? 

It had left the body, and was "in Paradise," 
"present with the Lord." (Matt, xxvii. 50; Luke 
xxiii. 43, 46; 2 Cor. v. 6-8.) 

5. How are ice to understand St. Peter's declaration 
that Christ, by His spirit, preached to the spirits in 
prison ? 

That preaching was done by His Spirit in the 
ancient prophets — particularly " once, while the long- 
suffering of God waited in the days of Noah while 
the ark was a preparing." (Gen. vi. 3; 1 Pet. i. 10- 
11; i». 18-20.) 

6. J low long did Christ remain in death? 



60 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

7. By toll at extraordinary events, was His resurrec- 
tion attended? 

By the appearance of angels who rolled away the 
stone, and by an earthquake. (Matt, xxviii. 1-6.) 

8. Who witnessed these things f 

The soldiers on guard, and the friends of Jesus 
who were approaching the tomb. 

9. What report of these things did the soldiers give f 
They reported the facts to the Jewish authorities; 

but, bribed by them, they reported to the public thai 
the body of Jesus was stolen by His disciples while 
they slept. (Matt, xxviii. 11-15 ) 

10. Was their public report credible? 

Not at all; for it is not probable that all the sol- 
diers would have slept at their post of duty; and if 
they did sleep, how could they know what then oc- 
curred ? 

11. Did Christ'' s friends expect 1 1 is resurrection? 
Evidently not. Their approach to the tomb for 

the purpose of completing the embalming proved 
that they had forgotten or did not credit His predic- 
tion of His resurrection. 

12. Unto whom did Christ appear during the day of 
His resurrection? 

He first appeared to Mary of Magdala, one of the 
most blessed and grateful of His disciples; and then 
made Himself known to two men with whom he 
conversed and ate bread. (Luke viii. 2; John xx. 
1-18; Luke xxxiv. 13-35.) 

13. Who next saw Him? 

In the evening of that day, at Jerusalem, He ap- 
peared to ten of His apostles; and a week later He 
met the eleven apostles at the same place and held 
a lengthy conversation with them. (John xx. 19- 
29.) 

14. Where next, and by whom, was He seen ? 

In Galilee, where, by appointment, He met His 
Apostles and gave them infallible proofs of His 
identity. (John xxi. 1-24; 1 John i. 1-3.) 



Christ, the Sympathizing Friend. 61 

15. Where else a/id by whom was lie seen ? 

He appeared again at Jerusalem, and finally at 
Mt. Olivet, where He was seen by "above rive hun- 
dred at once," and whence He ascended bodily into 
Heaven. (1 Cor. xv. 1-8; Luke xxiv. 50-52; Acts i. 
9-12.) 

16. At His ascension, what occurred f 

Angels appeared to those who w 7 ere w T atching His 
ascent, and announced that He would come again. 
(Acts i. 10-11.) 

17. Did Christ after this appear to any one? 

Yes. Dying Stephen saw Him glory crowned in 
Heaven (Acts vii. 55-56). Saul of Tarsus saw Him 
and heard His voice from Heaven (Acts ix. 3-5, 17; 1 
Cor. xv. 8). Also John, exiled in Patmos, saw Him 
in His o-lory. (Rev. i. 9-19.) 

18. Where now is the risen Christ? 

" In His Father's house," "at the right hand of 
God," whore "He ever liveth to intercede for us." 
(Acts ii. 23; Heb. vii. 25; xii. 2; 1 Pet. iii. 22.) 



Lesson 26. Christ, the Sympathizing Fkiend. 

1. What did Isaiah predict of Chrisfs sympathy? 
He said: " A bruised reed shall He not break, and 

the smoking flax will He not quench;" "He shall 
feed His flock like a shepherd, and gather the Iambs 
in His bosom." (Isa. xl. 11; xlii. 1-4.) 

2. What did St. Paul say of it ? 

He said : " We have not a high priest who cnnnot 
be touched with the feeling of our infirmities." 
(Heb. iv. 15.) 

3. What did Christ say of His oion compassion ? 

He said: "I have compassion on the multitude, 
w T ho are as sheep having no shepherd." (Matt. ix. 
35, 36; xiv. 14-21.) 

4. Uow was He affected towards a loathsome leper that 
approached Him ? 



62 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

He "was moved with compassion, and touched 
him" with a healing hand. (Mark i. 40-42.) 

5. How did He treat a blind man who rudely called 
to 1 Jim from the wayside? 

He had compassion and healed him. (Luke xviii. 
35-42.) 

6. How did He treat a bawling Syrophenician woman ? 
He gently called her to Him, heard her tale of 

woe. and miraculously healed her daughter. (Mark 
vii. 24-30.) 

7. What charge did He give to one whom He had re- 
stored to reason f 

He said: 4 ' Go home and tell thy friends how great 
things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had 
compassion on thee. (Mark v. 19.) 

8. What tenderness did He shore to mothers? 

He welcomed their approach, took their infants 
into His arms and blessed them, and said, for their 
comfort: "Of such is the kingdom of heaven." 
(Mark x. 13, 14.) 

9. What sympathy did He shoio His disciples? 

He walked on the waves to reach them in their 
peril and fear (John vi. 16-21); He cared for their 
bodily comfort (Mark vi. 31); He kept back from 
them painful tidings (John xvi. 12); He promised 
them the Comforter and His abiding presence (John 
xiv. 26; Matt, xxviii, 20); He promised them mansions 
and thrones in Heaven (John xiv. 2-3; Matt. xix. 
28); He pardoned sinning Peter and restored doubt- 
ing Thomas. (Luke xxii. 61 ; John xx. 24-29.) 

10. What regard, did He shore for His sad mother? 
He spake comforting words from the cross, and 

committed her to the tender care of His most beloved 
disciple. (John xix. 25-27.) 

11. How did Christ treat the alien Samaritans? 

He visited them as He did the Jews, with His Gos- 
pel of peace and His healing power. (John iv. 1-43; 
Luke xvii. 11-16.) 

12. What pity did He show to penitent sinners? 



Christ, our Exemplar. G3 

He forgave one whose tears fell on His feet (Luke 
vii. &6-50); He sent another away in peace (John vhi. 
2-11); He received, and sat at meat with others whom 
He sought to enlighten and lead to God. (Luke xv. 
1-10; xix. 1-10.) 

13. What feelings towards sinful Jerusalem did He 
man.tfext? 

He wept over the city and bewailed its coming 
calamities. (Matt, xxiii. 37; Luke xix. 41; xxiii. 
28.) 

14. What temper did He shoic towards those who ar- 
rested, abused, and crucified linn? 

He showed nothing but good will, healing one of 
them, and praying Divine forgiveness for all. (Luke 
xxii. 50-51; xxiii. 34.) 

15. What was one of the latest of His compassionate 
acts on the cross ? 

His forgiveness of the penitent thief. 
.1<> What compassion did He show to mourner?? 

He had compassion on the widow at Nam, and 
raised her only son to life (Luke vii. 11-15); He was 
deeply moved with the sorrow of Jairus, and raised 
his daughter to life (Luke viii. 49-55); He wept 
and groaned at the grave of Lazarus and then put 
forih His resurrection-power. (John xi. 33-44.) 

17. What marked contrast is there beticeen the sym- 
pathy of Christ and that attributed to Sakya Mouni 
— the Buddha of Hindoo worship? 

The Buddha's sympathy was expended on beasts, 
poisonous reptiles and insects, while he treated hu- 
manity with the utmost severity; but the sympathy 
of Christ was shown to the bodies and souls of man- 
kind. 

Lesson 27. Christ, our Exemplar. 

1. Tn what aspect should the life of the Man, Christ 
Jesus, be viewed by His followers ? 

It should be regarded as an example, or model of 



04 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

life to be imitated as fnr as possible in its purity, 
philanthropy, and piety. (Julm xiii. 15; 1 Pet. ii. 
21-24.) 

2. What was exemplary in J lis early days ? 

His filial devotion and subjection to His parents, 
whereby he grew in favor with God and man. (Luke 
ii. 40, 51-52.) 

3. What did He say of His devotion to God ? 

He said: "Wist ye not that 1 must be about my 
Father's business?" and: "I do always the things 
that please Him." (Luke ii. 49; John viii. 29.) 

4. As to Prayer, what were His habits? 

He was much engaged in prayer, and sometimes 
spent whole nights iu its exercise. (Luke vi. 12; 
xxii. 41-46.) 

5. Hid He regularly observe public worship f 

He was habitually in the synagogues or temple 
on the Sabbath days. (Luke iv. 1(5, 44; John xviii. 
20.) 

6. Hid lie desecrate the Sabbath by improper works? 
He was accused of this; but the tacts show that 

He only relieved suffering that came under His 
notice, and that Ik 1 claimed this to be lawful. (Matt, 
xii. 1-13; Mark iii. 1-5.) 

7. How did lie treat the Holy Scriptures? 
Always with reverence as the word of God and as 

authority in all questions of faith and life. (Luke 
iv. 4-12; 17-22.) 

8. Did He practise submission to Civil Authorities as 
He preached, it to others ? 

He did, both in paying taxes and in submission 
when He could have resisted. (Matt. xvii. 24-27; 
xxvi. 53; John xix. 11.) 

9. He taught von resistance to those persecuted for 
their faith; but did. lie practise it? 

He raised no hand in His own defence, and would 
not allow His followers to fight iu His behalf — 
meekly submitting to be led away " as a lamb to the 



Christ, our Exemplar. 65 

slaughter." (Isa. liii. 7; Matt. xxvi. 27; John xviii. 

10. He denounced covetousness, the needless accumula- 
tion of wealth, and ambition for honors; uhat was 
11 is practice respecting these? 

He coveted nothing, acquired nothing, and re- 
jected an offered crown. (Matt. viii. 20; John vi. 15.) 

11. Did lie practise such fellowship icitJt the joys and 
sorrows of mankind as lie preached? 

The record shows Him rejoicing at wedding and 
other feasts: sitting with wealthy Pharisees and in 
the homes of the poor; caring for the neglected and 
weeping with the mourners. (Luke xi. 37; xv. 1-2; 
xix. 7: John ii. 1-2; xi. 35.) 

12. lie required II is followers to practise the broadest 
charity and beneficence; was lie exemplary in these 
things ? 

" He went about doing good" to the bodies and 
souls of mankind, and then laid His life upon the 
altar of philanthropy. (Acts x. 38; Luke vii. 5; 
xvii. 6; xviv. 5-10; Gal. i. 4-5.) 

13. lie charged His ministers to reprove and warn 
the wicked ; did lie practise this f 

Hisdenunciationsof the proud, hypocritical, ruling 
class were bold and unmeasured; and He warned 
all of coming dangers and of the consequences of 
sin. (Matt. xi. 24; Luke xi. 42-52; xxi. 10-26; Mark 
iii. 29 ) 

14. As to patience in suffering, and submission to the 
Divine icill, tchat was Christ's example f 

Both His patience and submission were remark- 
able in degree and endurance. His language was: 
" The cup that my Father giveth me, shall I not 
drink it?" "Not inv will, but Thine be done." 
(Mark xiv. 36; John xviii. 11.) 

15. What can be said of the life of Christ as a whole, 
when viewed in its humane, moral, and religious as- 
pect* f 

5 



66 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

So far as the records show, and as indicated in its 
permanent influence upon Christian character, it 
was the purest, noblest, most symmetrical, complete, 
and God-like life that our world has ever seen; and 
it is worthy of the most careful study and imita- 
tion. 

Lesson 28. Christ, the Prophet, Priest, and 
King. 

1. What office* in relation to mankind are ascribed to 
Christ in the Holy Scriptures f 

He is cm lied the Prophet, Priest, and King. 

2. Was His Prophetic office foretold? 

Moses said to Israel: "The Lord, thy God, will 
raise up unto thee a Prophet like unto me" (Dent, 
xviii. 15); Isaiah also clearly announced his pro- 
phetic work. (Chap. lxi. .1-3; Luke iv. 16-21.) 

3. What is involved in the prophetic office? 

It involves a Divine Knowledge of human duties 
and of future events, and a Divine Commission to 
teach and proclaim them. 

4. Did the people to whom Christ ministered recognize 
His prophetic character and office ? 

Many of them did. Nicodemns, representing the 
Jewish rulers, said to Him: %t We know that Thou 
art a teacher come from God." The Herod ians, 
representing the political forces, said to Him ■ 
" Master, we know that Thou art true, and teachest 
the way of God in truth." The 5,000 whom He 
taught and fed in the wilderness exclaimed: '* This 
is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the 
world." St. Peter and St, Stephen both declared 
that Christ was that Prophet foretold by Moses. 
(Matt. xxii. 16; John iii. 2; vi. 14; Acts iii. 22; vii. 
37.) 

5. Were the prophecies of Christ concerning the per- 
secution of His followers, the fall of Jervsalem, and the 
woes of the people literally fulfilled? 



Christ, the Prophet, Priest, and King. 67 

They were, as is shown in Jewish, Roman, and 
Christian histories. 

6. Have the moral and religions teachings of Christ 
stood the tests of time and of human progress? 

They have never been superseded ; and they still 
commend themselves to every man's conscience as 
the embodiment of the highest wisdom and purest 
ethics. 

7. Was the Priestly office of Christ foretold? 
Prophetic David said of Him : " Thou art a Priest 

forever" (Psa. ex. 1-4), and his prediction was ap- 
plied to Christ by Himself, and by His Apostles. 
(Mark xii. 35-37; Acts ii. 34; Heb. v, 5-10; vii. 
1-24.) 

8. What pertains to the Priestly office ? 

Personal consecration to God; a Divine call to 
sacred duties; the offering of God-nppoiuted sacri- 
fice for sin; and intercession with God in behalf of 
penitent sinners. 

9. Did Christ fulfil these priestly functions ? 

He did, and in their highest sense; He was fully 
consecrated to God and set apart to this service; He 
offered the one great, acceptable sacrifice for the sins 
of the world; and now He ever liveth in Heaven to 
make intercessions for us. (Isa. liii. 10; Matt. xx. 
28; Heb. ix. 18-28; x. 1-14; vii. 25; 1 John ii. 
1-2.) 

10. What was foretold of Christ's Kingship ? 

By David, God said of Christ: "I will make Him, 
my first-born, higher than the Kings of the earth !" 
David also said of Him: "Thy throne, O God, is 
for ever and ever; the sceptre of Thy Kingdom is 
a right sceptre" (Psa. xlv. 6; Ixxxix. 27). Daniel 
and others predicted that His Kingdom should be 
universal and everlasting. (Dan. ii. 44; vii. 13-14, 
27; 1 Cor. xv. 25-26; Heb. i. 1-9.) 

11. What was to be the nature of His Kingdom ? 

It was not to be secular — relating; to lands, finance, 
armies, and civil life, but a Spiritual Kingdom, 



68 Studies in Chkistian Doctrine. 

dominating the minds, hearts, moral?!, and religious 
conduct of mankind. (John xviii. 36-37; Rom. xiv. 

12. What is the aim of Christ's government? 

He seeks to subdue and destroy nil selfish and 
evil tendencies in man; to overthrow Satan's King- 
dom of error, superstition, fraud, deception, and 
spiritual bondage; and to protect and help the in- 
nocent, weak, and helpless who trust in Him. 

13. What homage do we owe to Christ f 

The homage of obedience, in such service as we 
can render, and the offerings of love from the fruits 
of our labor. 

14. Is Christ's Sovereignty recognized in spirit- 
realms f 

"All the angels of God worship Him ;" and John 
saw the celestial saints prostrating themselves before 
Him, with the song; " Blessing and honor, and glory 
and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, 
and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." (Heb. i. 6; 
Rev. v. 9-14.) 

15. What to ns is this exalted Christ ? 

" God hath exalted Him — a Prince and Saviour — 
for to give repentance and remission of sins." (Acts 
v. 31.) 

Lesson 29. Deity and Humanity of Christ. 

1. What does the Scripture record of the life of Christ 
indicate as to His person f 

It indicates that He was both God and Man. 

2. Is this union of the Divine and human in Christ 
clearly taught in the Bible f 

It is, in the titles 'Son of God" and ''Son of 
Man," given Him; in the declaration that He is at 
once *' David's son and his Lord"; that He is " of the 
seed of David and Abraham concerning the flesh — 
and God over all, blessed forevermore "; and in the 
record that He wept as a man at the grave of Laza- 



Deity and Humanity of Christ. 09 

rus and then, as God, raised Him from death. (Psa. 
ex. 1; Luke xx. 41-44:; xix. 10; Jolm ix. 35; Ruin. i. 
1-4; ix. 3-5) 

3. Is Christ directly or indirectly called God in the 
Bible? 

Yes; and in many passages* John i. 1; xx. 28; Acts 
xx. 28; Rom. ix. 5; Phil. ii. (5: Col. ii 9; 1 Tim. lii. 
16; Titus ii. 10; lieb. l. 8; 1 John v. 20. 

4. Are other Tide* of Dtity given to Christ f 

Me is called "The Holy One, " "Tue Ju>t One," 
"King of kings, and Lord of lords," " The Lord of 
glory," "The Mighty God," "Emmanuel — or God 
with us." (Luke iv. 34; Aets vii. 52; 1 (Jor. iii. 8; 1 
Tim. vi. 15; Lfe ix. 6; Matt. i. 23.) 

5. Are Divine perfections attributed to Him? 
Omniscience, Omnipresence, Omnipotence, wis- 
dom, holiness, justice, goodness, eternity, and im- 
mutability are attributed to Him, just as they are to 
God the Father. (Matt, xviii. 20; xxviii. 18; Mark 
i. *4; ii. 8; John ii. 24; iii. 13, 21; vi. 64; x. 18; xiv. 
6; xvi. 30; xxi. 17; Acts i. 24; x. 38;xxii. 14; Rom. 
ix. 5; Eph. i. 21; Col. i. 16-18; ii. 3; Heb. i. 3; xiii. 8: 
Rev. i. 8.) 

6. Are Divine acts ascribed to Him? 

Creation, Inspiration, Pardon of sin, Resurrection, 
and the tinal Judgment are ascribed to Him as to God. 
(Matt. xxiv. 30; xxv. 31 ; John i. 3, 10; v. 21, 28-29; 
vi. 40; Acts iv. 12; xvii. 31; Rom. iv. 10; 1 Cor. viii. 
6; 2 Cor. v. JO; Col. i. 16; Heb. i. 1-3; v. 9; 1 Tim. 
iv. 10.) 

7. Were acts of religious worship paid to Christ? 
Wise men and Apostles worshiped Him; the an- 
gels w r ere required to worship Him; and all are re- 
quired to "honor the Son as they honor the Father." 
(Matt. ii. 11; xiv. 33; Heb. i. 6; John v. 23; Rev. v. 
12-13.) 

& Could such worship have been received or suffered 
if Christ had not been truly Divine ? 

It would have been contrary to the word of God, 



10 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

auda solemn and punishable mockery; but its ac- 
ceptance proves that Christ was truly God manifest 

in the flesh. (John i. 14; 1 Tim. iii. 16.) 

9. Is Christ's oneness with the Father asserted or clear- 
ly implied in the Holy Scriptures? 

He Himself declared: ''land my Father are one;" 
and iu praying for the unity of His followers, He 
asked " that they may be one, as Thou Father art in 
Me, and I in Thee." (John x. 30, 38; xvii. 23.) 

10. Was this oneness understood by lLs hearers as im- 
plying equality with God? 

Both His friends and foes so understood it; and 
the latter, regarding His claim as blasphemous, made 
it the basis of an attempt to destroy Him. (John v. 
18; x. 30-33, Luke xxiv. 52, 53; Phil. ii. 6.) 

11. Do the Scriptures teach the Manhood of Christ as 
clearly as His Deity? 

They do, in speaking of Him as " Son of Man and 
Son of God"; ,4 tlie Man, Christ Jesus"; and in 
saying: "He became flesh," "He took not on Him 
the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham; where- 
fore, in all things it behooved Him to be made like 
unto His brethren " — in " the likeness of sinful flesh." 
(Jjhn i. 14; Rom. viii. 3; Heb. ii. 16, 17.) 

12. As He appeared to His disciples after His resur- 
rection and then vanished from their sight, how could 
they be assured of His identity and real humanity? 

They were assured by seeing Him and His pierced 
hands and feet, by hearing His familiar voice and 
words; and by handling His body. Sight, hearing 
and touch united in assuring them that they were 
not deceived as to the reality of His person. 

13. Can we comprehend how the Divine and Human 
could unite in the person of Christ ? 

No more than we can comprehend the union of 
spirit and matter in ourselves; but the fact of such 
union is as clearly apprehended in the oue case as 
in the other. 



The Holy Ghost Giyex. 71 



Lesson 30. The Holy Ghost Given. 

1. What great blessing did Christ promise to send upon 
His followers after Hi* ascension ? 

The gift of the Holy Ghost. (John xiv. 16; Acts 
i. 5.) 

2. Was this foretold by the Hebrew Pwpheis? 

It was by Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel, and John the bap- 
tist, (Isa. xxxii. 15; Ezek. xxxvi. 25-28; Joel ii. 28, 
29; Malt, iii 11.) 

3. Where and when were these prophecies fulfilled f 
At Jerusalem, after Christ's ascension. (Acts ii. 

1-4.) 

4. Where were the Apostles, and how employed when 
the Spirit came vpon them f 

They were in a chamber near the temple, engaged 
in prayer. (Acts i. 13, 14; ii. 1.) 

5. What outward signs accompanied the Spirit? 
There was "a sound as of a powerful wind, and 

tongues of flame sat upon the Apostles'; they were 
also gifted with power to speak to the foreigners in 
the temple in languages that they had not learned. 
(Acts ii. 1-4.) 

6. What inward grace did they receive? 

Their doubts and fears were removed, they were 
rilled with the joys of salvation, and transformed 
from timid selhsh men into the boldest champions 
for Christ and brightest examples of virtue. 

7. Had the Holy Ghost been given before this? 

Yes; it had striven with sinners (Gen. vi. 3), and 
inspired the saints and prophets in all ages (Numb. 
x. 17; xi. 29; Psa. Ii. 11; John vii. 39; 2 Pet. i. 29); 
but it had not been given before in such copious ef- 
fusions and with such sensible demonstrations. 

8. Why teas it so given at that time ? 

To justify the claims of Christ (1 Tim. iii. 16); to 
prepare the Apostles fur their work (Acts i. 8; 1 Cor. 



72 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

xii. 8-11); and to make the Gospel effective in the 
salvation of mankind. (John lii. 5; xvi. 7-8; Rom. 
viii. 16; Titus Hi. 5; Eph. iv. 30; 1 Pet, i. 2.) 

9. Whence did the Holy Ghost proceed? 

It "proceeded from the Father," and was "sent 
by the Father and the Son" (John xv. 26); and it is 
therefore called "the Spi of God and of Christ." 
(Rom. viii. 9; 1 Pet. i.-2, 11.) 

10. In the Holy Ghost merely an influence sent from 
God to human souls? 

It must be more than " an influence"; for it per- 
forms personal acts, and is always referred to in the 
Bible as a person to whom Divine attributes belong, 

11. What personal acts are ascribed to it? 

To it is ascribed the organization of earth from 
chaos (Gen. i. 2); it breathed life and soul into man 
(Gen. ii. 7; Job xxxii. 8; xxxiii. 4); it begat the hu- 
manity of Christ (Luke i, 35; Matt. i. 20); it spake 
and wrought miracles by Christ (John iii. 34; xiv. 
10; Acts x. 38; Col. i. 19; ii. 9; Matt. xii. 28); it 
raised His body from death (Rom. viii. 11; 1 Pet. 
iii. 18); it convicts, renews, assures, loves, and sanc- 
tifies human souls. 

12. What Divine perfections are ascribed to it? 
Omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, eternity, 

holiness, and love. (Psa. exxxix. 1-11; Acts v. 3-4; 
Rom. xv. 30; 2 Cor. ii. 10; Heb. ix. 14.) 

13. What then is the Holy Ghost ? 

It is the " infinite and eternal Spirit" who is "of 
one substance, majesty and glory with the Father 
and the Son, very and eternal God." (John iv. 24; 
and Art of Religion.) 
14 In speaking of the Holy Ghost, is it proper to say 
"it" or "Him"? 

Both forms of the pronoun are used in the Scrip- 
tures (John xvi. 8; Rom. viii. 16, 26); but in this in 
stance "He" refers only to strength or majesty (not 
to sex), and "it" is used because spirit (Greek, 
pneuma) is of neuter gender, , No argument for or 



God, the Father, Son, and Holt Ghost. 73 

agninst the personality of the Holy Ghost can be 
built upon these pronouns. 

15. What useful precepts are given us in the Scrip- 
tures concerning the Holy Ghost? 

We are encouraged to ask for its presence (Luke 
xi. 13); and all are admonished not to "grieve, resist, 
quench, nor speak against it" or its work. (Mark 
iii. 29; Acts vii. 51; Eph. iv. 30; 1 Thess. v. 19.) 

Lesson 31. God, the Father, Son, and Holy 
Ghost. 

1 . Nature testifies that there is but one God, but do 
the Scriptures contradict this? 

No: they also teach that God is One; but they re- 
veal Him more fully, as "Father, Son, and Holy 
Ghost." 

2. What do they say of His Fatherhood? 

They call Him "the Father of lights." "the Father 
of glory," "the Father of Spirits/' "the Father of 
our Lord Jesus Christ," " the Father from whom the 
Holy Ghost proceed eth," "our Father" who "hath 
begotten us" — as His spiritual children. (Matt. vi. 
OTjohn xv. 26; Eph. i. 17; iii. 14, 15; Heb. xii. 9; 
James i. 17; 1 John v. 8.) 

3. What do these texts 'unitedly teach ? 

They teach that God the Father is the source of 
all flni?e being — the Parent of all good. 

4. What do the Scriptures teach of God the Son? 
They teach that Jesus Christ is the only-begotten 

Son of God; that God became incarnate in His body; 
that " in Him dwelt all the fullness of the Gnd-head 
bodily": so that the titles " God" and "Man," " Son 
of God "and "Son of Man," are equally and truly 
applicable to Him. (Luke xix. 10; John i. 1-14; ix. 
35; Col. iii. 9; 1 Tim. iii. 15.) 

5. Why this manifestation of God in humanity f 

It was for the purpose of revealing to us His moral 
perfections, and providing for our redemption and 



74 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

salvation from sin and misery. (John iii. 16; Acts 
xx. 28; Rom. iii. 23-26; Heb. ii. 14, 15; 1 John iii. 
8.) 
6 What revelation is made of God, the Holy Ghost? 
It is made known that "God is Spirit," and as 
snch has manifested Himself in human souls, en- 
lightening and renovating the sinful, inspiring the 
prophets, comforting and edifying the saints, and 
rest bring us to His image and glory. (John iv. 24; 
xiv. 26;xvi, 8; 2 Cor. iii. 17, lb.) 

7. For what purpose is this revelation of the Spirit? 
It is that we may know something of the nature 

of God, and that it is He that worketh in us to will 
and to do right; by this also w 7 e know that we have 
fellowship with Him. (Matt. x. 20; John xiv. 17; 
Phil. ii. 12, 13; 1 John iv. 13.) 

8. Does the revelation of God as Father, Son, and Holy 
Ghost imply that there are three Gods ? 

No. "These three are One" — one God, revealed 
to us in these three names and relations. (1 John v. 
7.) 

9. Is the oneness of God plainly asserted in the Holy 
Scriptures? 

At Sinai God said: "I am the Lord, thy God"; 
by Isaiah He said: "I am God; there is no God be- 
sides me." Moses was inspired to write: "The Lord 
our God is one Lord." St. Paul affirmed that " there 
is but one God." Christ said: " There is none good 
but One, that is God." (Exo. xx. 1; Dent. vi. 4; Isa. 
xliv. 5 6: Matt. xix. 17: 1 Cor. viii. 6; Gal. iii. 20.) 

10. Is 1 tie unity of the Father, Son. and Holy Ghost 
taught indirectly, or by implication ? 

It is, in the use of the threefold names in baptism 
and in worship. (Matt, xxviii. 19; 2 Cor. xiii. 14.) 

11. Can we comprehend this three-oneness? 

No more than we can comprehend how "body, 
soul, and spirit "constitute one person; or how intel- 
lect, sensibilities, and will, unite in one mind. 

12. Can we accept incomprehensible things? 



The Ambassadors of God. 75 

We do accept them in common life. There are 
mysteries hi chemical affinities; in electric action; 
in the change of the fluid of an egg into flesh, blood, 
muscles, nerves, bones, feathers, tic. , by the simple 
application of heal — mysteries as incomprehensible 
as those pertaining to God; and, since we accept 
these, we should not allow incompreheusibleness to 
be a barrier to faith. 

13. Mast we recognise this distinction of ' ' Father, Son, 
and Holy Ghost " in our prayers? 

It is necessary that we approach the Father in the 
name of His Son Jesus Christ; that we "honor the 
Son as we honor the Father"; and that we depend 
upon the inspiration and aid of the Holy Ghost. 
(John xiv. 6, 13; v. 23; Rom. viii. 36; Jude, 20.) 

Lesson 32. The Ambassadors of God. 

1. What title did St. Paul assume for ministers? 
He said: ' We are Ambassadors of God." (2 Cor. 

v. 20) 

2 . Wh at is an A mbassado r ? 

It is one commissioned by a government to bear 
its messages to others. 

3. Whom did God send to mankind, in the ancient 
times, as His Ambassadors? 

He sent messages by angels and men. (Gen. xxii. 
11; xlviii. 16: Exo. iii. 10; xxiu. 20; Judges xiii. 2-9; 
Isa. vi. 6-9; Heb i. 1.) 
4 Whom did He finally send as an Ambassador? 

His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and with a 
message of peace and salvation. (Heb. i. 2; 2 Cor. 
v. 18, 19.) 

5. Did Christ send Ambassadors to represent His spir- 
itual kingdom and to reconcile mankind to Him ? 

He called, qualified, and commissioned His twelve 
Apostles to preach peace and salvation to all. (Matt. 
x. 1-7.) 

6. What qualifications had they for this work? 



Y6 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

They spent three years under His influence and 
instruction; they were converted and renewed and 
inspired by the Holy Ghost; they were endowed with 
miraculous powers; and they were authorized to 
bind and free men's consciences in matters of relig- 
ious rites and forms, and to forgive or condemn sin- 
ners in His name. (Mark xvi. 15-18; John xx. 22, 
23; Acts iii. 1-9; v. 1-16; 1 Tim. i. 20.) 

7. Was provision made for 'perpetuating this minis- 
try? 

Yes; in the Apostolic age, God called others to His 
ministry, whose call was recognized by the church; 
and the xlpostles set apart these men by the imposi- 
tion of hands. (Acts vi. 3-7; xii. 2, 3; xiv. 23; xx. 
28; 1 Tim. iii. 1-10; 2 Tim. i. 6.) 

8. Has the Apostolic Ministry continued until now ? 
Christ has raised up men in all the ages since, and 

in all Christian lands, to proclaim His Gospel; and 
these men have been recognized by the living Church 
and its ministry. 

9. What authority or power has been conferred upon 
Ministers by their ordination f 

Authority to preach the Gospel and administer its 
ordinances and precepts in the Church. 

10. Did the Apostles convey miraculous powers in the 
act of 'ministerial ordination f 

There is no evidence that they did. They could 
not, at will, give such power (Acts viii. 17-21; xiii. 
2, 3); but the Holy Ghost fell upon many who were 
thus consecrated to God. (Acts vi, 6; xix. G; 1 Tim. 
iv. 14.) 

11. What orders, or classes of Ministers, were there in 
the primitive church f 

** Apostles, prophets, evaugdists. pastors, teachers, 
bishops, presbyters, deacons," etc. (Eph. iv. 11; 
1 Tim. iii. 1, 10; iv. 14.) 

12. Were these orders to be alioays maintained ? 

No rules on this subject were given by the Apostles; 
and hence each body of Christians is at liberty to 



The Great Salvation. 77 

ordain such offices as shall seem best for their edifi- 
cation. (Eph. iv. 12, 13.) 

13. Are Christian Mi aiders Priests ? 

No; there is uo priesthood hut that of Christ, who 
lias made the one great and acceptable sacrifice for 
sin, and now lives to intercede for us in Heaven. 
(Heb. iii. 1-3; iv. 14, 15; v. 1-9; vi. 19, 20; vii. 24- 
28; viii. 1-3; ix. 11-26; x. 18-20.) 

14. JIoic are Ministers now called and qualified ? 
They are called of God (Heb. v. 4), and qualified 

by the renewing and inspiration of the Holy Ghost, 
and by the study of the word of God. (L Thess. ii. 
4-6, 10. 13.) 
IT). What is incumbent on their consciences? 
The duties of entire devotion to their ministry, of 
declaring the whole counsel of God. of seekimr to 
save the lost, and of "warning and teaching every 
man in all wisdom." (Acts xx. 18-27; Col. i. 28; 
2 Tim. iv. 1, 2; 1 Tim. iv. 13-16.) 

16. Is it right that Ministers should be married f 

St. Peter was married (Matt. viii. 14; 1 Cor. ix. 5), 
and the directions of St. Paul in 1 Tim. ii. 12, and 
Titus i. 5, 6, show that this was the practice in the 
primitive church. 

17. Why should Ministers be sxinported by the church f 
Because they leave all to serve the church and its 

Head, and He has made it their duty. (Luke x. 7; 
1 Cor. ix. 7-11; 1 Tim. v. 17-19) 

Lesson 33. The Great Salvation. 

1. What does St. Paul affirm of the Gospel of Christ ? 
He declares it "the power of God unto salvation 

to every one that believeth." (Rom. i, 16.) 

2. In ichat does its power to save consist? 

In its great truths — its revelation of God in Christ 
the mighty and only Saviour of mankind. 

3. What was foretold of ( lirisVs saving power ? 
The ancient prophets described Him as one Mighty 



78 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

to save from sin. (Psa. lxxxix. 19; Isa. Ixiii. 1; 

Zecli. xiii. 1 ) 

4. What did Christ say of His own Mission and 
power ? 

He said that He came " to save the world," that He 
" had power on earth to forgive sins," and " that all 
power in Heaven and earth is given unto Him." 
(John iii 17; Matt, xviii. 11; xxviii. 18; ix. 6.) 

5. What proofs of saving power did He give ? - 

He saved many from bodily infirmities and sick- 
ness; He saved from paralysis, blindness, and death; 
he forgave sins, cast out devils, and lifted souls out 
of darkness and sin into light and holiness. 

6. What did His Apostles sag of His power to save? 
They declared that " He is able to save them to 

the uttermost who come unto God by Him," and 
that there is no other name under Heaven but His 
by which they can be saved. (Heb. vii. 25; Acts iv. 
12.) 

7. What personal experience of Salvation by Him did 
they testify to ? 

They affirmed that they " were reconciled to God 
by the death of His Sou;" that they ■' were saved 
from wrath through Him;" that " being justified by 
faith they had peace with God;" that they were 
"translated out of darkness into the Kingdom of 
His dear Son;" that they *' had passed from death 
unto life," and that they were adopted into His 
family and made heirs with Jesus Christ to a glori- 
ous inheritance. (Rom. v. 1, 9. 10; viii. 16-17; 
Col. i. 13; IPet. i. 2-4; 1 John i. 3; iii. 1-2, 14.) 

8. From what do all mankind need to be saved? 
From the darkness of ignorance, the bondage of 

superslition, the penalty of their transgressions, the 
wrath of God, the wiles of Satan, their natural anti 
acquired enmity against God, and from spiritual and 
eternal death. 

9. Is provision for their need made in Christ? 

Yes. He is " the light of the world;" He makes 



Salvation Free, but Conditioned. 79 

believers " free indeed" from the bondage of sin and 
Satan; He frees from condemnation and wrath by 
His spirit and truth ; He destroys all enmity against 
God ; He restores to the image and favor of God ; He 
saves from death and hell. (John viii. 12, 36; Rom. 
viii. 1-2; Col. i. 19-22; Heb. ii. 14-15; v. 9.) 

10. To whom was the Gospel first sent f 

To the Jews — the descendants of faithful Abra- 
ham; but while Christ commanded His Apostles to 
"begin at Jerusalem," He bade them go thence into 
all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creat- 
ure. (Luke xxiv. 47.) 

11. Are any " elect " or " reprobate" in this age? 
All mankind are called to the Gospel feast. Those 

who accept the invitation and meet its requirements 
are elected; while those who reject or neslcct it are 
reprobated, or cast off. (Matt. xx. 16; 1 Thess. i. 4; 
1 Pet. i. 2; ii. 9; 2 Pet. i. 10; Luke vii 30; John v. 
40; Rom. i. 28; xi. 21 ; 2 Tim. iii. 8; Tit. i. 16.) 

12. Is Christ's salvation designed for all mankind? 
Yes, he died for all, and sends His Spirit to all. 

13. Can all accept His call and come to Him ? 

All can who are of sound mind and have sufficient 
knowledge of Him and of the way of life. 

14. ("an infants, imbecile*, the insane, and the ignor- 
ant heathen be saved by Christ ? 

His propitiation for sin covers their case, and they 
will be judged by Him who is just and "will do 
right." (Rom. v. 14-18; Dent, xxxii. 4; Rev. xv. 3.) 

15. What must we do to be saved, ? 
Repent, and believe in Jesus Christ. 

Lesson 34. Salvation Free, but Conditioned. 

1. Is Jesus Christ the Saviour of all Mankind ? 

He is " the Saviour of all — especially of them that 
believe." (1 Tim. iv. 10.) 

2. Does He offer salvation to all men ? 

Yes; "without money or price," and He invites 



80 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

all to come to Him and be saved (Isa. xlv. 22; Iv. 
1; Matt. xii. 28; John iii. 16; vi. 37; Rev. xxii. 17.) 

3. WJiat did He promise to do if He was crucified ? 
He promised to "draw all men unto Him." (John 

xii. 32) 

4. Does tins "drawing" insure the salvation of all? 
It assures the salvation of all who yield to His in- 
fluence and come to Him. (John vi. 37.) 

5. Are all mankind saved in any measure by the 
death of Christ? 

They are: for it is only by virtue of His sacri- 
ficial offering that the human race lias been preserved 
on earth. Except for this, Adam and Eve would 
have died in the da} r they sinned: hence we live, and 
Lave all blessings through Christ. From Him comes 
every ray of light upon the path of duty, every 
prompting and restraint of conscience, every desire 
for truth and goodness, and all strength to choose 
the good and to forsake the evil. 

6. Does Christ fully save any unconditionally ? 
Yes; He saves infants dying in infancy, and all 

who have no ability to come to Him, and all who 
"work righteousness according to their light." 
(MattxxiiC 37; Luke vii. 30; xix. 42; Acts x. 34-35; 
Rom. ii. 14-15; v. 16-18.) 

7. What conditions of salvation must all others 
meet? 

The conditions of " Repentance of sin, faith in 
Jesus Christ, followed by obedience to all His com- 
mands. (Isa. i. 16-18; lv. 6-7; Mark i. 14-15; Luke 
xiii. 5; Acts ii. 38; xvi. 31; Rom. x. 10; Heb. v. 
9.) 

8. Why are these conditions exacted? 

Because they are necessary to that holiness which 
God seeks in us through the plan of Redemption: 
holiness being a voluntary state that we can enter 
into only by a free and hearty renunciation of sin 
and obedience to God. (Josh. xxiv. 15; Phil. ii. 12; 
Tit. ii. 11-14.) 



Salvation Free, but Conditioned. 81 

9. When must these conditions of salvation be com- 
plied with f 

Now; in the present life; while we have health, 
strength, soundness of mind, and gracious ability to 
fulfill them. (Prov. i. 26; Eccl. ix. 10; 2 Cor. vi. 2; 
Heb. iii. 7-8.) 

10. May Divine influence and aid to salvation be 
withdrawn from us in this life ? 

It is evident that God withdrew it from the Ante- 
diluvians (Gen. vi. 3), and from obstinate and re- 
bellious Jews (Luke xix. 42; Acts xiii. 46-47; Rom. 
xi. 13-22); and His admonitions not to "quench, 
grieve, nor resist the Holy Ghost/' imply that it may 
be withdrawn from us. (Mark iii. 29; Eph. iv. 30; 
1 Thess. v. 19.) 

11. But suppose that one should, through the pressure 
of business, or the diversions of pleasure, or from mere 
carelessness, fail to meet the conditions of salvation in 
time, will he have an opportunity for retrieving his 
error after death? 

The Scriptures present no ground of hope in such 
cases of neglect; but they give us the most solemn 
warnings against such neglect of the great salvation. 
(Eccl. ix. 10; xi. 3; John viii. 21-24; Heb. ii. 1-3; 
llev. xxii. 11-12.) 

12. Is it reasonable to suppose that remorse and pain 
after death will change one's character? 

No: for they fail to reform men here, as the crim- 
inal records show; and if they fail where gracious 
aids surround one, it is certain that they would fail 
when these aids are withdrawn. 

13. Can we safely infer from God's merciful provision 
for our present needs, that lie will provide a future 
salvation for those who die unforgiven ? 

No: for although His love, wisdom, and power 
are unchangeable, the guilt and demerit of sinners 
who have rejected Christ and sinned against great 
light are such as will call for Judgment rather than 
mercy. 

6 



82 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

14. Can any be saved through their reformation and 
future good conduct ? 

JNo: for such a life could only meet its current 
obligations, and would Lave nothing to apply on its 
old indebtedness to justice and right. 

Lesson 35. Repentance, Faith, and Assurance. 

1 . Wha t is Repentan ce ? 

It is a painful emotion, a godly sorrow for sin, ac- 
companied by an act of Will in turning from sin to 
righteousness. 

2. Is repentance the same as "doing penance " ? 

It is not the same in act or purpose. Repentance 
relates to sin and reformation and return to God, 
while penance is a self-inflicted punishment caused 
by remorse or compliance with a merely superstitious 
prescription. 

3. What are the fruits of true repentance ? 

The confession and forsaking of sin, reparation 
for wrongs done, and conversion, or turning to God. 

4. Unto whom must sin be confessed? 

It should be confessed to God, against whom all 
sin is committed (Psa. li. 3, 4); and if we have sinned 
against our fellowmeu, either openly or secretly, we 
must confess to them. (Ezra x. 11; James v. 16.) 

5. Must ice confess to priests or ministers? 

If we have wronged them, we must confess to 
them, as we do to others; but if not, then we ought 
not to confess to them any more than to others whom 
we have not injured. 

6. What reparation should we make for sins? 

In matters of business we should restore with in- 
terest whatever we have taken wrongfully (Exo. xxii. 
1 ; Luke xix. 8). If we have sinned against the char- 
acter or reputation of others, we must recall the 
wrong, apologize for it, and vindicate those whom 
we have maligned. 

7. Mow is repentance wrought in the soul? 



Repentance, Faith, and Assurance. 83 

By the Holy Spirit, in its application of truth and 
reproof to the conscience. (John viii. 9; xvi. 7, 8; 
Acts v. 31.) 

8. What is the conversion implied in repentavce? 

It is a turning cway from sin, to serve God in 
righteousness. (Isa. lviii. 6, 7; Joel ii. 12; Luke iii. 
8-14; xvii. 4.) 

9. Is conversion our work, or God's ? 

It is both. He works in us to will and to do right, 
and we put forth our will and powers in right ac- 
tion. (Lam. v. 21; Ezek. xxxiii. 11; Matt. xiii. 15; 
Phil. ii. 12; Heb. xiii. 20, 21.) 

10. What more is included in turning to God? 
Prayer for His Spirit to renew our souls in right- 
eousness, whereby we may serve Him acceptably. 
(Isa. lv. 6, 7; Dan. ix. 20; Hos. xiv. 1, 2; Psa. Ii. 
1-3.) 

11. In ichat spirit must this prayer be offered? 

It must be offered sincerely, penitently, humbly, 
and with faith in Him and His word. (Psa. xxxiv. 
18; lxvi. 18: Isa. Ivii. 15; Heb. xi. 6.) 

12. What is a saving Faith f 

It includes a belief in God, in the truth that He 
has revealed, and that He will fulfill the promises 
that He has made when their conditions are met; it 
also includes a belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of 
God and Saviour of men, and a complete trust in 
the merits of His sacrificial death and intercessions 
for our personal salvation. (Heb. xi. 6; John xiv. 
13; Acts viii. 37; xvi. 31; Eph. i. 12, 13.) 

13. What are the fruits and proofs of a true faith? 
Obedience to God in Christ. (Heb. v. 9; James ii. 

16) 

14. What is promised to the truly penitent who turn 
to God with prayer and faith? 

The pardon of sin, and salvation from it and from 
its penalty. (Isa. i. 18; xliv. 21-23; Acts ii. 38.) 

15. Can ministers or priests pardon our sins against 
God, or absolve us from penalties? 



84: Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

They can do no more than declare the conditions 
upon which God will forgive our sins. Each soul 
must determine for itself whether it meets these con- 
ditions. (1 Cor. ii. 11.) 
16. J low may ice know that we are forgiven? 

By the peace and love of Go I in our souls, and 
the testimony of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. v. 1; viii. 
16; 1 Johniii. 19-22.) 

Lesson 36. Justification, Adoption, Regener- 
ation. 

1. What is the Scripture doctrine of Justification? 
The Scriptures teach that we who have sinned 

against God and are condemned, may be pardoned, 
reconciled, and accepted by Him as innocent or just 
persons. (Rom. v 1-2. 10; 2 Cor. v. 18; Col. i. 21.) 

2. Can sinners justify themselves before God? 

No: for no excuse tor sinning against Ilim can be 
framed; and there is no way by which one can blot 
out the record of his guilt. (Job ix. 3, 20; xxxi. 14; 
Luke xvi. 15: Rom. viii. 33.) 

3. Upon what terms can toe be justified? 

On God's part, the atonement or expiation for sin 
made in the death of Christ was necessary (Luke 
xxiv. 46; John iii. 16, 17; He!>. ix. 22; Rom. v. 8-11); 
on our part, repentance of sin and faith in Christ 
are necessary conditions of justification. (Acts ii. 
38; Rom. v. 1;2 Cor. v. 19.) 

4. Into what tender relation to God are justified per- 
sons brought? 

They are not only accepted as pardoned convicts, 
but are adopted into God's spiritual family as "sons 
and daughters." (John i. 12; Rom. viii. 16, 17; 2 
Cor. vi. 17, 18; Gal. iv. 6; 1 John iii. 1, 2.) 

5. What inward change accompanies Justification? 
Change of heart or Resrenerntion. 

6. What is the distinction between justification and 
regeneration ? 



Justification, Regeneration. 85 

Justification implies a change in our relation to 
God from that of condemned to pardoned persons; 
while regeneration implies a change in our hearts, 
aims, and character — a change in our moral nature. 
As to the time or order of these works wrought for 
and in us, they are simultaneous. 

7. IIoio did our Lord describe regeneration*? 

He called it beinsr "born again," or as in the mar- 
gin, " from above," i. e., from God — being begotten 
by His Spirit. (John iii. 5.) 

8. In what terms did the Apostles describe it? 

They called it " the washing of regeneration " (Tit. 
iii. 5); being "begotten of God" (1 John iii. 9, 14; 
v. 18); being "translated out of darkness into light 
and the kingdom of God " (Col. i. 13; 1 Pet. ii. 9); 
being "transformed" "changed into the image of 
God" (Rom. xii. 2; 2 Cor. iii. 18): "created anew in 
Christ Jesus unto good works" (Eph. iv. 22-24); a 
resurrection from spiritual death to life. (Eph. ii. 
5. 6. 10.) 

9. By what power is this great change wrovght ? 

It is wrought by the Truth and Spirit of God work- 
ing in our understanding, conscience, affections, and 
will; as we yield ourselves voluntarily to their gra- 
cious influences and ohev them. (John iii. 5; xvi. 
8; 1 Cor. iv. 15; Titus iii/5; 1 Pet. i. 21-23.) 

10. Is water baptism an agent in regeneration? 

Our Lord coupled water with the Holy Spirit in 
this work, but it was obviously as an outward test 
of our entire submission to God— as Naaman. the 
leper, had to submit to the water of Israel. (2 Kinsrs 
v. 1-14.) 

11. Can regeneration take place before baptism ? 
Yes, if baptism has not been presented as a test 

of submission to God, and there is a readiness to 
obey Him in all things. (Acts viii. 3o-38: x. 44-48.) 

12. Can there be baptism without regeneration ? 
Undoubtedly; for to adults, the virtue of every or- 
dinance depends as much on their moral state as 



86 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

upon the qualifications of the administrator. (Acts 
viii. 9-23; Luke xi. 32.) 

13. Are baptized infants regenerated f 

Only in the sense of a change of relation. They 
are translated from the world intothe church, where, 
as candidates for its faith and fellowship, I hey are 
to he trained up " in the nurture of the Lord." (Acts 
ii. 39; xvi. 14. 15, 31-33; 1 Cor. i. 16; Eph. vi. 4; 2 
Tim. i 5, 6; iii. 14, 15.) 

14. What proves owe a true child of God? 

The inward proof is that of victory over sin, love 
to God and righteousness; the outward proof is that 
of a life of practical godliness. (Matt. vii. 20; Rom. 
vi. 22; 1 John iii. 14, 19-24; v. 10.) 

15. What blessings are enjoyed by God's children f 

" Peace and rest " of soul (Rom. v. 1; Heh. iv. 3; 
Johnxiv. 27); " joy unspeakahle "(1 Pet. i.8); "com- 
fort" in all earthly sorrow (John xiv. 15-17; 2 Cor. 
i. 4); communion with God (1 John i. 3); conscious 
heirship with Christ to a heavenly inheritance, and 
a hope that is as an anchor to the soul. (Rom. viii. 
17;Heb. vi. 19; 1 Pet. i. 3-4.) 

16. Can the blessings of justification, adoption, and re- 
generation be lost f 

They can he retained by fidelity to God, or be 
lost through carelessness, worldliness, and sin. (John 
viii. 31; xv. 6; xvii. 12; 1 Cor. xv. 58; 1 Tim. i. 18- 
20;Heb. x. 38, 39.) 

Lesson 37. Christian Profession — Baptism. 

1 . When one has consciously become an accepted child 
of God, what is his first duty? 

It is his duty to praise God and to declare to others 
what He hath done for his soul. (Isa. xii. 1; Psa. 
lxvi. 16; Mark v. 19; 1 Tim. vi. 12.) 

2. What way result from discharging this duty f 
God will be honored, and others may thereby be 

induced to seek His favor; also by this open profes- 



Christian Profession — Baptism. 87 

sion, the convert will be strengthened and fortified 
against the influence of former evil associates. 

3. What profession, besides by word of mouth, needs 
to be made ? 

Believers, not previously baptized, should then be 
publicly baptized with water, in the name of God, 
the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. (Rum. x. 10; 
Phil. ii. 11; Acts ii. 38; Matt, xxviii. 19.) 

4. 'What is the significance of baptism ? 

It symbolizes the washing away of sin and the de- 
scent of the Holy Ghost upon the candidate, and is 
a bad^e or sign of discipleship of Jesus. (Acts xxii. 
16; 1 Pet. iii. 21.) 

5. Was baptism practised in the Jewish church f 
Not as an initiatory rite into the church — that being 

circumcision; but it was practised as initiatory to a 
full consecration to God — thus all Israel were bap- 
tized by the spray of the sea (1 Cor. x. 1, 2), and the 
priests, the altars and their utensils were baptized or 
washed with water and sprinkled with blood. (Lev. 
viii. 6-15; 2 Chron, xxix. 22; Heb. ix. 19-22.) 

6. Was John's baptism Jewish, or Christian f 

It was neither, but transitional from one to the 
other; it signified a cleansing from sin and prepara- 
tion for receiving Christ. (Matt. iii. 5, 6, 11; Exo. 
xix. 10-14.) 

7. What baptism did Christ receive from John? 

It was initiatory to His priesthood. (Exo. xxix. 
4.) 

8. Did Christ baptize His disciples f 

There is no proof that He did. Some of them who 
had received John's baptism administered baptism 
for a w T hile. (John iv. 1,2.) 

9. Did Christ require them to baptize? 

Not until after His resurrection. (Matt, xxviii. 
19.) 

10. Who administered baptism in the apostolic times f 
The Apostles and other ministers. (Acts viii. 38; 

x. 44-48; xvi. 32, 33; 1 Cor. i. 13-17.) 



88 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

11. In what mode was baptism administered f 

By sprinkling and pouring water upon ilie candi- 
date. (Lev. viii. 11; Numb. viii. 7; Isa. Iii. 15; Ezek. 
xxxvi. 25, 26; 1 Cor. x. 2; Tit. iii. 5; Heb. x. 22.) It 
is evident from " The Teaching of the Twelve Apos- 
tles" (ascribed to Barnabas) that immersion was not 
then practiced. 

12. In what form was the baptism of the Holy Ghost? 
It was "poured out." (Joel ii. 28; Acts ii. 17, 18.) 

13. Is there any special importance to be attached to 
the mode of baptism f 

None, except that it be done decentty. (1 Cor. iv. 
40.) 

14. Are infants proper subjects for baptism? 

God required that infants should be initiated into 
His ancient church by circumcision. (Gen. xvii. 9- 
14; Lev. xii.3.) So Christ recognized infants as sub- 
jects of His spiritual kingdom. (Mark x. 13-16; 
JVJatt.xviii. 1-5.) The Apostles said to believers: "The 
promise is to you and your children" (Acts iii. 39); 
and, accordingly, they baptized their l< households'* 
— a word that implies children. (Acts xvi. 15; 1 Cor. 
i. 16.) The practice of those inspired men has, 
through all the succeeding centuries, been regarded 
as setting forth the will of God in this matter. 

15. Are baptized infants members of the Church? 
They are initiated into its corporation as candidates 

for its highest privileges, just as they have citizen- 
ship in the Stale, and are entitled to its protection 
and aid while ihey are becoming fitted by age, intel- 
ligence, and character for its high privileges. 

16. What are the real benefits of infant baptism ? 
Infants are benefited by the gracious Spirit that, 

in well-authenticated cases, has rested upon them m 
and after their baptism; and also by the increased 
solicitude and care for their spiritual nurture from 
parents, pastors, and churches, which their covenant- 
relation secures. Parents and churches are benefited 
by having these tender wards put into their hands 



Christian Fellowship; the Church. 89 

and hearts — they being thereby moved to greater 
diligence and a deeper piety. 

Lesson 38. Christian Fellowship; the 
Church. 

1. After the open confession of faith in Christ, what 
step should young Christians take next? 

They should unite with the church of Christ. 
(Acts ii. 41, 42; ix. 26-28: xvii. 4; 2 Cor. vi. 14-18; 
viii. 5: Epli. ii. 19-22; Heb. x. 24, 25.) 

2. What are the advantages of Christian anion f 

By this, Christians are shielded against the entice- 
ments of sinners, the allurements of the world and 
the assaults of Satan; by it they are aided in gaining 
religious knowledge, are built up in faith and holi- 
ness, and encouraged amid difficulties, comforted in 
sorrow, corrected and reproved when in fault; and 
by it they gain admission to the Lord's table and 
partake of the Holy Communion — a very important 
means of grace. 

3. What name is given in the Bible to a body or so- 
ciety of Christians f 

they are called a " Church." (1 Cor. i. 2.). 

4. What constitutes a Christian Church? 

A company of believers in Christ, united in fel- 
lowship for the purposes of aiding each other in the 
Christian life, for maintaining religious worship and 
the ordinances of Christ, and for promoting His 
kingdom on earth. 

5. Bid Christ organize the Church? 

He won disciples and united them in a common 
fellowship; He established ordinances and rules of 
life; He ordained ministers and sent them forth to 
convert mankind and organize them as His spiritual 
"household." (Matt. xvi. 18; xviii. 17; xxviii. 19, 
20; John xv. 16; Gal. vi. 10.) 

6. Did the Apostles organize the Church ? 

They organized many churches, which were des- 



90 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

ignated by their locality as " the church at Jerusa- 
lem," "the churches of Asia," "the church at Cor- 
inth," Rome, etc. (Acts xiii. 1; xv. 4; 1 Cor. xvi. 
19; Rev. i. 4) 

7. Did any of these Churches claim or exercise su- 
premacy over the others? 

No; they all appear to have maintained equality 
and fraternity, and the unity of a common faith and 
sympathy. Deference was paid to the Church at 
Jerusalem while the Apostles and oldest disciples of 
Jesus remained in it; but it neither claimed nor ex- 
ercised authority over the others. (Acts xv.) 

8. Was there Unity or Catholicity in the Apostolic 
Churches? 

They were spoken of collectively as "the Church 
of God," and a unity of faith, fellowship, and wor- 
ship was maintained among them by frequent visita- 
tion and written correspondence on the part of both 
ministers and laymen. (Acts xv. 26; xx. 28; 1 Cor. 
x. 32.) 

9. Who teas the recognized Head of the Church? 
Christ alone. (Matt, xxiii. 8-11; Eph. i. 20-23; iv. 

15, 16; Col. i. 18). 

10. Did either of the Apostles assume any headship or 
authority over the Church ? 

No; they disclaimed all authority and called them- 
selves the "fellow-servants" of Christ with their 
brethren. (Acts xv. 23-29; 2 Cor. i. 24; Rom. i. 1.) 

11. Who presided over the Council at Jerusalem? 
St. James. (Acts xv. 13-19 ) 

12. Was any headship or supremacy accorded to Peter 
or Paul by the primitive Church ? 

There is no evidence of anything being accorded 
to them but esteem and love, and these were given 
because of their eminent character and service for 
Christ, rather than for their office. 

13. Did St. Peter found the Church at Rome? 
There is no evidence that he ever visited that city; 

on the contrary, it is clear that he remained some 



The Holy Communion. 91 

years in Judea, and then went eastward to "Baby- 
lon" (probably the more modern city of that name, 
built with material from the old city, also called 
Selucia-on-the-Tigris), whence he wrote to the 
Churches in Asia Minor. (1 Pet. v. 13; Acts xii. 
18. 19; xv. 7; Gal. ii. 11.) 

14. What authority is relied in any Church ? 

It has authority to establish rules and regulations 
for its own government, to declare its faith, to decide 
upon the qualifications of persons for membership 
and for the ministry, and to maintain discipline 
among its own members. 

15. Which is the true Church of Christ ? 

Every body of Christians that clings to Christ as 
its Head, and obeys Him, is a true Church. 

Lesson 39. The Holy Communion. 

1. What did Christ institute just before His death? 
The religious ceremony of partaking of bread and 

wine in remembrance of His sufferings and death. 
(Luke xxii. 15-20; 1 Cor. xi. 20-26.) 

2. By what names is this rite now called,? 

It is called a "sacrament" — an oath, because in 
this the obligation of fidelity to Christ is renewed; 
" the Eucharist" — a thanksgiving, because Christ gave 
thanks when He blessed the bread and wine; "the 
Lord's Supper," because it was instituted by our 
Lord after the Passover supper, and because in it 
the believer feasts (in a mystical manner) upon the 
living Christ; and "the holy Communion," because 
the worthy communicant enters into fellowship with 
Christ's sufferings and blessed spirit. 

3. What is the chief design of this rite ? 

It is designed to bring vividly to our minds 
Christ's sufferings and death for our sins, so that 
we may the more intensely hate sin, and the more 
fully trust in Him for salvation from it. 

4. What did Christ call the bread and icine? 



92 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

He called the bread His body, and the wine His 
blood of the New Testament. (Matt, xxvi 26-27.) 
5. What is here meant by " New Testament?" 

It means the new covenant which God makes with 
all who come to Him through Christ — a covenant of 
pence and salvation. (Exod. xxiv. 3-8; Jer. xxxi. 31- 
34; Heh. viii. 1-10.) 

6 When Christ called the bread His body, and the 
wine His blood, did lie speak in metaphor? 

Most certainly, as Fie did in His parables and on 
other occasions saving "this is," for " this represents" 
(Matt. xiii. 36-39; John vi. 32-35, 47-58). He spoke 
as Moses had spoken of the paschal lamb (Exo. xii. 
11), and as the Jews still speak of the unleavened 
bread. 

7. Are the real body and blood of Christ present in 
the sacrament ? 

The body of Christ is glorified and in Heaven 
(Acts i. 9-il; vii. 55, 56; Phil. iii. 20, 21). When 
the Apostles received the bread and wine from His 
hands they could see His living body before them, 
and they could have had no thought of the cannibal- 
ism of eating His real body and drinking His real 
blood; for such an eating would have been unlawful 
to them as Jews and abhorrent to them as men. 

8. Who are the proper mi nistr ants of the Communion ? 
Christ's ministers — following His example. 

9. Have ministers or priests, so called, any power fo 
transubstantiate or change the substance of bread and 
wine into the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ? 

They have not. And any pretension to the exer- 
cise of such power is an impudent imposture, at 
war with common sense as well as with the Holy 
Scriptures and pure relisrion. 

10. Tn what sense is Christ present in the sacra- 
ment ? 

In the spiritual sense in which He said: " Where 
two or three are gathered together in my name, there 
am I in the midst of them," " Lo, I am with you al- 



Prayer and the Spiritual Life. 93 

ways, unto the end of the world." (Matt, xviii. 20; 
xxviii. 20; John xiv. 3-20.) 

11. Do the bread and wine of the sacrament confer 
grace and salvation upon the recipient ? 

Not in the absence of penitence and faith on his 
part. Grace is God's gift to the penitent and believ- 
ing. 

12. What does St. Paul say of him who unworthily 
partakes of the Holy Supper f 

He says that "he eateth and drinketh damnation 
(condemnation) to himself." (1 Cor. xi. 29.) 

13. What is it to eat and drink " unworthily?" 

It is to do it in a gross, carnal manner, "not dis- 
cerning the Lord's body." 

14. lloic should we prepare for the Communion ? 

By self examination, penitence, prayer, and re- 
newed consecration to Christ. (1 Cor. xi. 28; Rom. 
xii. 1; Heb. x. 22.) 

Lesson 40. Prayer and the Spiritual Life. 

1 . What is C / ristia n P/ •ayer ? 

It is the asking of God for those things that we 
desire and need and that are promised to ns. 

2. What are the requisites of acceptable prayer ? 
Sincerity, humility, contrition for sin, pure in- 
tention, importunity, submission to God, faith in 
Christ and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. (Psa. 
lxvi. 18; Isa. xxix. 13; Ixvi. 2; Mark xi. 22-24; Luke 
xviii. 1-14; John xiv. 13; Rum. viii. 36; James, iv. 3; 
1 John i. 9; v. 14; Jude 20.) 

3. In " the Lord's Prayer* required on all occasions? 
Evidently not; for the Apostles do not refer to it 

among their many prayers. Hence it should be 
considered as a general model of simplicity and 
propriety rather than a binding form. Each soul 
is exhorted to pour itself out in prayer. (Psa. lxii. 
8; Matt. vi. 7-13.) 

4. Is any bodily posture in prayer prescribed? 



94 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

No. But the examples of " kneeling" set by in- 
spired prophets and Apostles, and by our Lord, are 
worthy of imitation, as an expression of a proper 
humility. 

5. WJm t is the faith required in prayer ? 

It is a belief and trust in God and His promises, 
and in Jesus Christ, by whom alone we can have ac- 
cess to the Father. (Mark ix. 23, 24; xi. 24; John 
xiv. 6; lleb. xi. 6; Eph. ii. 18.) 

6. Are there any limits to acceptable prayer? 

Yes; we must ask within the limits of Divine rev- 
elation and promise. (Matt, xviii. 19, 20; 1 John 
v. 14.) 

7. May ice ask for things that would involve an in- 
terruption of the course of nature f 

Yes, whenever prompted thereto as were the holy 
men of old. (1 Kings xvii. 21; xviii. 36-45; Dan. 
ii. 5-18; Acts x. 40; xii. 5-10.) 

8. Will the prayer of faith always save the sick ? 

So St. James teaches (chap. v. 14). But such 
prayers are more than ordinary desires; they are 
"the effectual fervent prayers of the righteous" — 
the prayers "inwrought" by the Holy Ghost. 

9. Should surgical or medical aid be discarded when 
we pray for the sick? 

. By no means. (Isa. xxxviii. 5, 21; James v. 14.) 
It is a law of God that we should help ourselves as 
far as we can with the means that He has given 
us. 

10. Should we pray for any besides ourselves? 

Our Lord requires us to pray for enemies (Matt. 
v. 44); and St. Paul teaches that we should pray for 
all mankind. (1 Tim. i. 1, 8.) 

11. Will Christian prayers secure the conversion of 
sinners? 

They will bring upon them the convicting Spirit; 
but their conversion depends upon their voluntary 
obedience to these convictions. 

12. Should prayer be private or public ? 



The Love and Worship of God. 95 

It should be both. (Matt. vi. 5, 6; John xvii. ; 
Acts i. 14.) 

13. How often should we pray? 

The spirit of prayer should be abiding, and the 
exercise of it be daily and frequently as occasion is 
afforded. (Psa. cxix. 164; Luke xviii. 1; 1 Thess. 
v. 17.) 

14. May all mankind pray to God? 

It is both their privilege aud duty. (Isa. xlv. 22; 
Finn. x. 12; 1 Tim. ii. 8.) 

15. What are the ordinary benefits of prayer? 

It leads us to reflect upon our moral state and 
needs; it enkindles holy aspirations; it tends to shield 
us against evil influences and associations; it brings 
us near to God; it brings to us answers of peace and 
comfort; it increases our fellowship with devout 
souls; it brings help and sustenance to our spiritual 
life. 

16. What is the Spiritual Life? 

It is that new activity aud direction given to our 
spiritual faculties by the resurrect ion- power of the 
Holy Spirit, "the life of faith in the Son of God;" 
"the life that is hid with Christ in God;" the life of 
fellowship with God; "the life eternal" begun in 
the soul here, to be continued in Heaven. (Eph. ii. 
1-6; Col. iii. 1-3; Gal. ii. 20; 1 John v. 11, 12; John 
iii. 5, 16.) 

Lesson 41. The Love and Worship of God. 

1. What is God's highest demand of us? 

He requires us to love Him supremely, to worship 
Him in spirit and truth, and to serve Him in all 
things. (Mark xii. 29, 30; Luke iv. 8; 1 Cor. x. 31; 
Psa. c. 2.) 

2. What is involved in loving God? 

It includes admiration of His character, gratitude 
for His favors, a desire to please Him, and delight 
in His fellowship. 



93 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

3. Can ice love the Unseen God ? 

Yes; as we love the excellent of other ages of whom 
we have only read. (1 Pet. i. 8.) 

4. How may our love to God be manifested? 
By fervent worship and filial devotion. 

5. What is religious worship? 

It is the feeling and expression of reverence, grati- 
tude, and devotion to God. 

6. What is it to praise God? 

It is to recognize and adore His perfections, to 
render thanks to Him for His gracious gifts, and to 
declare to others " His excellent greatness and good- 
ness." 

7. May our praise be expressed in songs accompanied 
by instruments of music? 

Such forms of praise were accepted by Him in an- 
cient times (Exod. xv. 1; 2 Chron. v. 12-14); they 
were continued through the prophetic age and sanc- 
tioned by our Lord (Matt. xxvi. 30); the inspired 
Psalmist summoned all to praise God with accom- 
panying instruments (Psa. cxlviii.-cl.); psalms, 
hymns, and spiritual songs are commended to all 
Christians by St. Paul (Eph. v. 19); and experience 
has shown that the Divine blessings fall richly upon 
worshipping congregations. 

8. What are the advantages of closet worship ? 
When alone with God, we may forget all surround- 
ings and approach Him as the Searcher of hearts; 
our sincerity is proved; our prayers become more 
specific and familiar; we enter into the most delight- 
ful communion with Him;. and we receive His gra- 
cious and open reward. (Matt. vi. 6.) 

9. What are the advantages of family worship ? 

In this, domestic love is increased and sanctified; 
parents become better fitted for ail duties; children 
are subdued under the hallowing sense of the Divine 
presence; domestics, friends, and all are united in 
common sympathies, and aided in forming and main- 
taining: Christian characters, 



The Lo\ r E a^d Worship of God. 97 

10. What are the advantages of public worship? 

T$y this, the sympathies of communities are 
broadened; feuds are subdued; strangers are assimi- 
lated into the Christian fraternity; t he general tone of 
piety is heightened and somewhat equalized by 
quickening the languid and worldly, by helping 
the weak and discouraged, and b} T comforting the 
sad; and the effectiveness of the church as a mis- 
sionary force, is maintained and increased. 

11. How often should toe engage in Divine worship ? 
As individuals. Ave should "wait upon God 

continually" (Hosea xii. 6; 1 Thess. v. 17,18); we 
should have set times for private devotion (Psa. lv. 
17; Dan. vi. 10; Acts x. 9). Family worship should 
be maintained daily (Dent. vi. 7; Job i. 5). Public 
worship ought to be observed ever} 7 Sabbath day by 
all who are able to attend (Lev. xix. 30; Luke iv. 
16; Acts xx. 7). No opportunity for social worship 
should be lost. (Heb. x. 25 ) 

12. What is it to serve God? 

His service includes acts of worship, and a full and 
hearty obedience to all of His commandments; so 
that whether we eat or drink or whatsoever we do, 
all shall be done for the glory of God — in accordance 
with His natural and moral laws. (Rom. xii. 6-17; 
1 Cor. x. 31.) 

13. May our service of God in common things be ac- 
ceptable to Him as worship t 

Yes; but not as a substitute for worship. (1 Sam. 
xv. 22; Luke xi. 42.) 

14. What will be the outcome of loving and servino 
God? 

God will be honored and wfll bless us; our spirit- 
ual character will be developed and matured; and 
we shall become fitted for the society of ihe blessed 
who worship Him in Heaven. (Rev. iv. 2-11.) 

15. Why should we praise and serve God? 
Because the beauty of His character and the 

proofs of His love demand this of us. 
7 



98 Studies ra Christian Doctrine. 



Lesson 42. The Sabbath akd Sanctuary. 

1 . What u the meaning of Sabbath ? 

It means the Rest-day, — every seventh day set apart 
for rest from worldly toil, and for religious wor- 
ship. 

2. What people observe a seventh-day rest f 
The Christians, Jews, and Mohammedans. 

3. Do all observe the same day f 

Christians generally observe the first day of the 
week, the Jews and a few Christians observe the 
seventh day, and the Mohammedans keep the sixth 
day. 

4. Is it practicable for all to keep the same time? 
No; for while it is day on one side of the globe it 

is night on the other side; and if two parties should 
migrate from the same place, the one going eastward 
and the other to the west, and both keeping holy 
ever} 7 seventh day, they would find that when they 
met on the opposite side of the globe they were not 
keeping the same day, and that neither of them was 
keeping their original Sabbath hours. 

5. What was the origin of Sabbath observance ? 

It is traceable through history to the early ages and 
to the Hol} r Scriptures. 

6. Is the Sabbath a Mosaic institution f 

It w T as observed by the Hebrews before they re 
ceived the laws of Moses; and lie ascribed it to a 
Divine enactment. (Exod. xvi. 22-30; Gen. ii. 1-3.) 

7. Wliat was the design of the Sabbath f 

It w r as designed to commemorate God's rest from 
preparing the earth for man's abode, and to promote 
the spiritual, moral, mental, and physical welfare of 
mankind. 

8. Does the Sabbath appear among the Mosaic institu- 
tions as local and temporary f 

No; it was enacted by ihe voice of God from the 
clouds above ML Sinai, and afterwards written by 



The Sabbath and Sanctuary. 99 

His finger on a tablet of stone, as a permanent and 
universal law. (Exod. xx. 8-11; xxiv. 12; x^xi. 12- 
18.) 

9. What does this law prohibit and require ? 

It prohibits worldly employment, and requires 
Divine worship on the holy-day. (Exod. xx. 8-11; 
xxiii. 12; xxxi. 14-16; Numb, xxviii. 9-10.) 

10. By ichat penalty icas this law enforced? 

By the death-penalty. (Exod. xxxi. 14-15; Numb, 
xv. 32-36 ) 

11. Did God re-enforce this law by His prophets? 

Ke did by Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Nehemiah; prom- 
ising blessings to those who kept His Sabbath, and 
denouncing woes against those who desecrated it. 
(Isa. lvi. 2; Iviii. 13; Ezek. xx. 11-13; xliv. 24; 
Neh. ix. 13-14; x. 31.) 

12. Did Christ repeal or change the Sabbath law ? 
No; He declared that " the Sabbath was made for 

man"; but He rescued it from the superstitious in- 
tepretatiou of hj'pocrites who would not permit 
works of necessity and mercv on that dav. (Matt. v. 
17-20; Mark ii. 23-28; Luke vi. 6-10; xiii. 10-17.) 

13. Did Christ keep the Sabbath holy ? 

He did, both worshipping and teaching in the 
sanctuaries on the Sabbath. (Luke iv. 16.) 

14. Did the Apostles and early Christians continue to 
keep the seventh day as the Sabbath? 

For a time they evidently kept both the seventh 
day and the first da} r of the week holy; — the first day, 
in commemoration of the resurrection of Christ. But 
after the Jews violently persecuted them, and were 
themselves as a nation dispersed by the Romans, the 
Christians kept only the first day of the week as the 
Rest-day. (John xx. 19; Acts xviii. 4; xx. 7; 1 Cor. 
xvi. 2.) 

15. What is a sanctuary ? 

It is a holy place set apart for Divine worship. 

16. Has God approved of the erection and consecra- 
tion of houses of too r ship ? 



100 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

He required Moses to construct a sanctuary, and 
approved of the temples at Jerusalem by granting 
special favors there ; our Lord also blessed one who 
had built a synagogue. (Exod. xxv 1-8; xl. 33- 
35; 1 Chron. xxxviii. 6; 2 Chron. v. 12-14, Luke 
vii. 5.) 
17, Ought Christians to maintain houses of worship? 
This duty is implied in many passages of Scrip- 
ture. (Lev. xix, 30; Psa. cl. 1; Neh. xiii. 11; Heb. 
x. 22-25; 1 Tim, iii. 15.) 

Lesson 43. Christian Morality or Ethics. 

1. What is the practical every -day manifestation of 
true Christian character? 

It is obedience to the moral precepts of Christ, and 
the exhibition of Christian virtues. 

2. Can one be religious without being moral? 
Grossly immoral and profane persons may recite 

prayers and perform religious acts; but none can be 
truly religious in heart without being holy in life. 
(Matt, xxiii. 14, 23-28.) 

3. Can one be moral without being religious? 
Through hereditary, educational, and social in- 
fluences, and from worldly motives, persons may 
obey the rules of social molality; but one who is 
wholly moral obeys Divine as well as human laws. 
(Mark x. 17-22.) 

4. What disting uixlies Moral from Religious science? 
Moral science relates to the common social laws of 

life, while Keligious science includes these and the 
duties that we owe to God. 

5. What is the source of Moral or Ethical science? 

It originates in the sense of right and wrong, of 
duty and obligation, with which God has endowed 
humanity; but its laws have been formulated by wdse 
men who have observed the effects of good and bad 
actions. 

6. J lave all nations a Moral science? 



Christian Morality or Ethics. 101 

Not a written one; but all Lave underlying prin- 
ciples or sentiments of rectitude and humanity, 
"wiih many variations in their expression and appli- 
cation. 

7. What distinction is notable between ''the Golden 
Hide" of CJirist and that of Confucius? 

Christ's rale is Positive— requiring us to do good 
to others, as we would wish them to do unto us- 
while that of Confucius is merely Negative, forbid- 
ding to do to others what one would not like to have 
done to himself. 

8. What distinguishes Christian Morality from other 
Moral science? 

The moral precepts of Christ are higher in their 
nature, broader in their scope, an essential part of 
His religion, enforced by its sanctions, and recorded 
in permanent form for the government of mankind 
in all ages and nations. 

9. Kame some of the Christian virtues? 
Prominent among them are temperance, purity, 

truthfulness, honesty, fidelity, industry, justice, 
mercy, and philanthropy. 

10. What does 1 empe ra v ce in chide? 

It includes the restraint of all our appetites and 
passions within healthful and virtuous limits, and 
abstinence from everything poisonous or harmful to 
body, mind, or society. 

11. Is the Truthfulness required, absolute and binding 
nnder all circumstances ? 

In all ordinary circumstances it is; but in the ex- 
traordinaiw cases of attack by enemies, insane persons, 
or ferocious beasts, strategy, or deception is allowed 
in defence of life or property. 

12. 1 Vh a t of Ho n esty a n d Fidelity ? 

These are imperatively demanded of all Christians. 
No fraudulent, dishonest, or perjured person can be 
a Christian. (1 Cor. vi. 9-11.) 

13. Wh at of Industry, Tit rift, and Ph ila n ffi ropy ? 
These, too, are made indispensable to the Christian 



102 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

character and hope. (John v. 17; Rom. xii, 11; 1 
Thess. iv. 10-12; 2 Thess. iii. 10-12; 1 Tim. v. 8; 
Heb. xiii. 16.) 

14. What are all Christians required to maintain in 
common life f 

"A conscience void of offence towards God and 
man." (Acts xxiv. 16; 2 Cor. i. 12; 1 Tim. i. 19; 
Heb. x. 22; xiii. 18; 1 Pet. iii. 16 ) 

15. What constitutes a good conscience ? 

A mind enlightened by the word of God ; a habit, of 
self-examination and comparison of our life with His 
word; prompt self-condemnation of wrong in our- 
selves; and a constant endeavor to do right in all 
things. (Acts xxiii. 1; 2 Cor. iv. 2; 1 Tim. iii. 9; 
Heb. ix. 14.) 

16. What is a "weak, defiled, evil, or seared con- 
science^ f 

A "weak" conscience is one partly enlightened, 
untrained in action, and scrupulous in trifles or care- 
less in important things; a "defiled conscience" is 
one that consents to do things which it secretly con- 
demns (1 Cor. viii. 7); an "evil conscience" is one 
that acts capriciously; and a "seared " conscience is 
one that has ceased from all sensitiveness about 
sin. (Heb. x. 22; 1 Tim. iii. 4.) 

Lesson 44. Benevolence and Beneficence. 

1. Will you define Benevolence and Beneficence ? 
Benevolence means "good-will," or disposition to 

do good to others; beneficence is the actual doing 
of this good. 

2. What great exhibition of His benevolence and benefi- 
cence has God given to man ? 

He has shown His benevolence in the gift of life 
with its joys; but in the gift of His only begotten 
Son. Jesus Christ, to suffer and die for our salvation, 
He has shown the most wonderful love. (John iii. 
16.) 



Bexevolexce axd Beneficexce. 103 

3 With what song did the angels celebrate the advent 
of Christ? 

They sang: "Glory to God in the highest, and on 
earth peace and good- will toward man." (Luke ii. 
13-14.) 

4. Did Christ exhibit a benevolent spirit ? 

He went about doing good to the bodies and souls 
of mankind, healing their maladies, instructing the 
ignorant, comforting the mourners, and striving to 
win all to the paths of holiness (Acts x. 38; Matt. iv. 
23): and last of all, He gave Himself to die as our 
Redeemer. (Gal. i. 4.) 

5. Did Christ require beneficence of 1 lis followers f 
He required all to love their neighbors as them- 
selves; to love even their enemies; to feed the 
hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, and to give 
of their earthly substance freely as they had received; 
and He charged His Apostles to go into all the world, 
healing the sick and preaching His Gospel to every 
creature. (Matt, v. 6, 19-20, 44; x. 7-8; xxvhi. 19; 
Luke vi. 30-36; xvi. 9) 

6. Bid the Apostles obey these commands? 

The record shows that they wrought many miracles 
of healing, and preached the Gospel in many lands. 
(Mark xvi. 20; Acts ii. 4-6. 40; iii. 1-8; v. 12-16.) 

7. What example of beneficence was set by the early 
converts to Christianity? 

They shared their goods with their poorer brethren 
and were active in doing good. (Acts iv. 32-37; vi. 
1-7; ix. 36; xxiv. 17.) 

8. What charge did the Apostles give to their con- 
verts ? 

They charged all to do good to all men; to be 
hospitable to strangers; and to give freely of their 
2:oods for the relief of the needy. (Rom. xii. 10-15; 
Gal. vi. 10; 1 Tim. vi. 17-19; Heb. xiii. 16; James 
i. 27.) 

. 9. Is the Hebrew standard of giving one-tenth, a law 
binding upon Christians? 



104 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

No; but instead of this we have the higher, wiser, 
better, and more prolific rule of giving " as God hath 
prospered us," — which means, in some cases, perhaps 
nine-tenths. (1 Cor. xiii. 3, 13; xvi. 1, 2; 1 John iii. 
14-16; iv. 7, 11.) 

10. What are we required to do for the souls of our 
felloic-men ? 

We are required to instruct the ignorant; reprovo 
and warn the sinful, and proclaim the glad tidings 
of salvation to all; we are also in duty bound to 
contribute of our means for sending missionaries and 
teachers to " the regions beyond." (1 Thess. v. 14; 
Eph. v. 11; Col. 1. 28; 2 Cor. x. 16.) 

11 . What must we do for their bodily wants ? 

We ought to aid them in business, to relieve the 
distressed, to care for the helpless, the sick, and the 
aged. 

12. Are these duties fulfilled in ovr day f 

They are partially, by private and public efforts, 
to evangelize the world; by the support of missionary 
and educational agencies; by maintaining asylums 
for orphans, and hospitals for the sick and insane; 
and by munificent contributions for the poor, 
famine-stricken and afflicted people of all lands. 

13. Are Christians benefited by their beneficence? 
They find it " more blessed to give than to receive" 

(Acts xx. 35); they have the satisfaction of right- 
doing (Prov. xiv. 14); their sympathies are expanded ; 
they become more considerate of others; more just 
and generous; they feel the Divine approval (Heb. 
xiii. 16) ; they become more industrious, and hence 
the giving Christian nations have become the most 
prosperous in the whole world. 

14. By what final consideration did Christ enforce His 
demand for beneficence ? 

He taught that our works will determine our 
character and influence our destiny in the future life. 
(Matt. xxv. 31-46.) 



Marriage — Divorcement. 1 05 



Lesson 45. Marriage — Divorcement. 

1. What is the Bible idea of Marriage? 

It is the covenanted union of a man and woman in 
family relation, as husband and wife. 

2. What was the origin of this institution ? 

It originated with the Creator, who made Adam 
and Eve, and gave them to each other. (Gen. ii. 
21-24.) 

3. What is the basis of a true Marriage? 

It is a mutual esteem and affection for each other; 
confidence in each other's fidelity; and a belief in 
their physical and mental adaptation to each other in 
this relation. 

4. What does St. Paul declare of Marriage? 

lie saj r s: "It is honorable in all." (Heb. xiii. 4.) 

5. Does the Bible sanction bigamy or polygamy? 
No; it does not approve of the polygamous prac- 
tices of the Hebrew patriarchs and kings, but records 
the troubles and miseries into which they were 
brought by them ; and it clearly condemns polygamy. 
(Deut. xvii. 17; Eccles. ix. 9; Matt. xix. 3-6; 1 Tim. 
iii. 12.) 

6. Is Polygamy consistent with nature? 

No; for by natural law the number of the sexes is 
nearly equal — the males slightly preponderating: 
hence for men to take a plurality of wives is to rob 
other men of natural or God-given rights, and also 
bring slavery to woman, confusion to households, 
and lawlessness to children. 

7. What does God require of Husbands ? 

That they shall " love their wives as Christ loved 
the church," and be faithful to them in all things. 
(Eph. v. 23-31; 1 Tim. v. 5.) 

8. What is demanded of Wives? 

That they shall reverence and love their husbands 
and make their homes thrifty and happy. (Eph. v. 22; 



106 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

Col. iii. 18; 1 Tim. v. 4; Titus ii. 5; Prov. xxxi. 
10-81.) 

9. What is required of them as Parents ? 

That they love their children; provide for their 
comfort; instruct them iu Divine knowledge, and 
train them up in the ways of piety and thrift. (Gen. 
xviii. 19; Deut. vi. 7; Prov. xix. 18; xxii. 6; Epli. 
vi. 4.) 

10. What are the duties of Children? 

They must reverence, honor, obey, and love their 
parents. (Exod. xx. 12; Eph. vi. 1-3; Luke ii. 51- 
52.) 

11. What does the seventh commandment forbid? 
It forbids all violations of the marriage vow. 

12. In the Mosaic law, what was the penalty of 
adultery? 

It was death to both parties. (Lev. xx. 10-12.) 

13. Did the Mosaic law permit divorcement? 

It allowed a man to send away his w r ife with a 
written discharge from the marriage covenant, if he 
found iu her impurity or uufituess for his companion- 
ship and home. (Deut. xxiv. 1.) 

14. What did Christ say of this permission ? 

lie told the Jews that it was granted by Moses 
because of the hardness of their heart; and hence it 
was a merciful relief from a life of misery; but, He 
added, it was not so in the beginning, and He virtu- 
ally renewed the marriage law as one binding during 
the life of the parties. (Matt. xix. 3-9.) 

15. Does Christianity allow of divorcement except for 
the violation of the Marriage vow? 

It does not. Yet St. Paul allows that if the heathen 
partner of a Christian chooses to desert him or her, 
for that reason, the Christian is, by this desertion, 
set free from the marriage vow. (1 Cor. vii. 10-15.) 

1 6. lias civil government the right to grant divorces 
for other than Scripture reasons? 

The assumption of such a right is doubtful, and 
therefore reprehensible. Marriage is a religious as 



Chuech and State. 107 

well as civil contract, and no power of earth can 
annul a covenant with Heaven. Civil governments 
have the right to punish adulterers, and the duty of 
regulating properly interests as well as of providing 
for the custody and education of children that are 
abandoned by either parent. But while regulating 
these temporal interests, the right of the 8tate to 
decree absolute divorces so that the unfaithful parties 
can marry again is one that can well be questioned 
and denied. 

Lesson 46. Church and State. 

1. Our last lesson brought us to question Hie right of 
a civil government to set aside a religious covenant ; 
what, then, are the relations of Church and £tate? 

They are friendly and co-operative; the one car- 
ing for the spiritual and eternal, and the other for 
the bodily and temporal; and both aiming to secure 
the highest welfare of mankind. 

2. Did Christ assume temporal sovereignty t 

No. He declared that His kingdom is not of this 
world, — a kingdom in the heart of his followers; and 
He refused an earthly crown. (Mark i. 14-15; Luke 
xvii. 21; John vi. 15; xviii. 36.) 

3. What did the Froyhets and Apostles declare con- 
cerning the kingdom of Christ? 

They declared that it consisted not in meat and 
drink (temporalities), but is "righteousness, peace, 
and joy in the Holy Ghost," — one into which the 
wicked cannot enter except h} T repentance and faith, 
and one that continues forever. (Dun. ii. 44; vii. 27; 
Psa. ii. 6-12; xlv. 6-7; Rom. xiv. 17; 1 Cor. vi. 9. 

4. What relation, then, does Christianity sustain to 
civil government? 

It is that of a counsellor, friend, and aid. It 
creates in the hearts of mankind a love for virtue, 
law, and order, and a respect for rulers and loyalty 
to government; and it also teaches that civil govern- 



108 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

ment is a Divine institution, whose laws and ordi- 
nances and officers must be just and merciful. (Rom. 
xiii. 1-7; 2 Sam. xxiii. 3.) 

5. Upon what basis rests the right of a government to 
levy taxes and to exact military service ? 

This rests upon the natural God given right of self- 
protection, which belongs to communities as well as 
to individuals. 

6. What is the proper sphere of civil government? 

It is limited to the temporal or earthly interests 
of mankind, protecting persons and property; caring 
for health, education, and subsistence; promoting 
peace, restraining and punishing vice and crime. 

7. 7s capital punishment lawful and right? 

It is an ordinance of God. (Gen. ix. 3-6; Numb. 
xxxv. ; Rom. xiii. 1-4.) 

8. Can Christian nations rightfully wage war ? 
They can in self-defence — as rightfully as a man 

may, by force, repel the assaults of a wild beast or 
savage man: it is also right to punish wicked nations 
for aggressions upon the rights and lives of citizens of 
other nations. 

9. What can be said in support of wars for the acqui- 
sition of territory or other property? 

Nothing whatever. Such acts are condemned by 
Christianity, and are no better than robbery and 
murder by private individuals who covet their neigh- 
bors' possessions. 

10. Is popular resistance to rulers ever justifiable ? 

It can be justifiable only when rulers are wicked 
or unfaithful to their duties; and when petition, 
remonstrance, and persuasion utterly fail to correct 
these evils. 

11. Are nations responsible to God for their acts? 
This is plainly taught in the promises and threaten- 

ings of God to nations, and in the providential fulfil- 
ment of them. 

12. In a Republic, what are the duties of Christian 
citizens ? 



Temptation, Conflict, Perseverance. 109 

Their duties are the same as those of other citizens: 
they should know the laws and obey them; vote 
intelligently and patriotically for suitable legislators 
and officers; accept of official responsibilities; and 
be exemplary in all positions. 

13. May the Church appeal to the State for aid in its 
support and extension f 

If it should so far forget its Heavenly origin and 
mission as to do this, the appeal should be promptly 
rejected; for the kingdom of Christ needs no sword 
of aggressiveness, nor gold collected by taxes for its 
support. 

14. What is the limit of State duty to the Church? 

It is its duty to protect its citizens unmolested in 
their assemblies for worship; to protect them, as all 
others, from the assaults of the wicked ; to protect 
their houses of worship, schools, hospitals, and homes 
from the hands of villany ; and to secure to them and 
to all people the right of worshipping God as they 
choose, so long as they do not annoy or injure others. 

Lesson 47. Temptation, Conflict, Perse- 
verance. 

1. What is the meaning of the word Temptation f 

It means a trial or test of character, whether by 
direct assault for this end, or by allurements or entice- 
ments to evil. 

2. How are we to understand those texts of Scripture 
which say that God teas tempted f 

Temptation in this case means a trial of patience 
and a provocation to destroy those who abused His 
mercies. (Exod. xvii. 2; Deut. vi. 16; Mai. iii. 15; 
Matt. iv. 7; 1 Cor. x. 9; James i. 13.) 

3. What temptations did our first parents meet? 
They were of two kinds; the first being a test of 

their virtuous self-denial and loyalty to God, by 
means of the all tiring fruit of the forbidden tree that 
was ever before them; the other was an enticement 



110 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

to sin under the promise of gaining knowledge and 
pleasure; and this was presented hy Satan. 

4. Lid God tempt Abraham to sin f 

No; for while the thing required of him was con- 
trary to nature, God only wished to test his faith and 
affection; and hence He stopped him short of a sin- 
ful act. (Gen. xxii. 1-18.) 

5. Does God tempt anybody to sin f 

No; the thing is impossible. (Deut. xxxii. 4; 
James i. 13.) 

6. Whence come the temptations that are common to 
man f 

Trials or tests of character may come from God, 
and from His disciplinary providences; some of them 
come from the disorders of the world through the 
introduction of evil, such as earthquakes, cyclones, 
famines, etc. (Gen. iii. 17-18.); but solicitations to 
sin come from our own fallen natures, or from Satan 
and his servants. (James i. 14; 1 Tim. vi. 9; 1 Thess. 
iii. 5 ) 

7. Is Satan, the tempter, a real person, or only a 
personification of evil? 

The Sacred writers always refer to him as a real 
person — the chief of the fallen angels; and any inter- 
pretation of these many texts that would destroy the 
idea of personality is not only violative of the laws 
of language, but would involve the destruction of all 
personality, whether of God or man. 

8. What spiritual foes assail ('Imstians? 

Our Lord warned His followers that they would 
meet with opponents among their kindred; and St. 
Paul sa3 T s: "We wrestle against principalities, 
powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and 
spiritual wickedness (or wicked spirits) in high 
places. " (Matt. x. 22, 36; Eph. vi. 12.) 

9. Were Christ's temptations like those uhich assail 
Jhsfollotcersf , 

He was " tempted in all points "of bodily appetites, 



Temptation, Conflict, Perseverance. Ill 

ambition, and presumption, "as we are, yet without 
sin." (Matt. iv. 1-11; Heb. iii. 18; iv. 15.) 

10. What was the result of Christ's temptation? 

He came out of it like pure gold from the crucible. 
Satan found nothing weak or sinful in Him (John 
xiv. 30); and ma u kind may learn from Him that if 
Christ dwell in their hearts, they may also have com- 
plete victory over all evil. (Heb. li. 10, 11, 18; xii. 
3; 1 Pet. ii. 21-24.) 

11. Why do Satan and sinners tempt those who seek 
to be holy f 

Because of their envy and hatred. 

12. Why does God allow them to do this mischief t 
We cannot tell, "for now we see through a glass 

darkly;" but perhaps wiien Satau and his imps have 
received their just punishment, and the eternal 
kingdom of righteousnes is established, we shall 
know. (John xiii. 7; 1 Cor. xiii. 12; 1 John iii. 2 ) 

13. What protection against evil does God offer us? 
He offers us a complete armor, in which we may 

ward off all the fiery darts of the wicked one. (Eph. 
vi. 13-18.) 

14. Are Christians in danger of being overcome by 
their adversary and of being finally lost? 

The reality of this peril forms the basis of the 
many warnings and admonitions against apostasy 
which abound in the Scriptures. (1 Chron. xxviii. 
9; Ezek. xxxiii. 11-13; John xv. 6; Rom. xi. 21-22; 
1 Cor. ix. 27; 2 Cor. vi. 1; Gal. v. 4; 1 Tim. i. 18-20; 
Heb. x. 38, 39; 2 Pet. iii. 17.) 

1 5 . Un to to ho m is ft nal salva tio n pro mised ? 

It is promised only to those who "overcome the 
wicked one," "endure to the end" and are " faith- 
ful unto death." (Vlatt. xxiv. 13; Heb. iii. 14; 2 
Pet. i. 10-11; Rev. ii. 10.) 



112 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 



Lesson 48. Growth, Maturity, Perfection. 

1. In respect to spiritual attainments , what are new 
converts to Christ said to be ? 

They are called " babes in Christ." (1 Coi\ iii. 1; 
1 Pet. ii. 2.) 

2. As such, what are they exhorted to do? 

To "grow in grace and knowledge," and go on 
to perfection. (Eph. iv. 13-15; 1 Pet. ii. 2; 2 Pet. 
iii. 18.) 

3. What was St. Paul' sprayer for the Thessalonians f 
He prayed that God would " sanctify themwholly 

and preserve them blameless." (1 Thess. v. 23.) 

4. Did Christ ask the same for 1 lis followers? 

He prayed the Father to "sanctify them, and keep 
them from evil in the world." (John xvii. 15-17.) 

5. What is the meaning of "sanctify"? 

It means to set apart from common uses; to cleanse, 
and consecrate to God. (Gen. ii. 3; Exo. xxviii. 41; 
1 Cor. vi. 11; Heb. x. 10) 

6. What does tit. Paul say that Christ is to us ? 

He says that He is " wisdom, righteousness, sanc- 
tification and redemption." (1 Cur. i. 30.) 

7. Are Christians sanctified ichen converted? 

They are then consecrated to God, and called 
"saints" — "the sanctified in Christ." (Rom. i, 7; 
1 Cor. v.i. 11; Heb. ii. 10; Jude 1.) 

8. Are they then sanctified " wholly" ? 

They probably are, so far as iheir knowledge of 
themselves and of their intentions penetrates. (1 John 
iii. 9.) 

9. Can one be sinful and holy at the same time? 
Not in the strictest or absolute sense. He must 

choose one or the other; and his choice determines 
his character. One may be learned, and yet igno- 
rant of many things; so he may be hol} r in intention 
and life, and yet be conscious of many defects. 

10. Does sin reign in the regenerate soul? 



Gkowth, Maturity, Perfection. 113 

No. Defects and faults may remain there as the 
results of hereditary depravity and sinful habits, 
but they have no dominion over him. (Rom. vi. 11- 
14; vii. 20-25; viii. 11-14; Gal. v. 1(3-25; 1 John hi. 
6-10.) 

11. Can we be saved from all sin in this life? 
"The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all 

sin." (1 John i. 7; Heb. vii. 25; Rom. vi. 22; 
1 Thess. ii, 10) 

12. What are the means of entire sanctif cation f 
The Truth of God enlightening the mind, and the 

Spirit of God operating upon the conscience, will, 
and affections; and these forces work in all hearts 
that welcome them and co-operate with them. (John 
xvii. 17; 2 Thess. ii. 13; 1 Pet, i. 2; Phil. ii. 13.) 

13. Is entire sanctif cation obtained by growth? 
There is a growth in desire for it, in conviction 

of its need, and in knowledge of Christ that precedes 
this; but the blessing itself is the free gift of God to 
the yearning and believing heart. (Acts xv. 9; Rom. 
v. 2; Eph. ii. 8, 9.) 

14. What are the evidences of entire sanctif cation ? 
Completeness in Christ (Col. ii. 10); the possession 

of "the fruits of the Spirit "(Gal. v. 22-24); maturity 
of mind and character (1 Cor. xiv. 20; Eph. iv. 12- 
15; Heb. vi. 12-14); purity of heart and life (Matt, 
v. 8; 2 Pet. i. 4; 1 John v. 4); habitual obedience to 
God (1 John ii. 5); spiritual rest (Phil. iv. 6, 7; Heb. 
iv. 3); abiding in Christ (John xv. 4-8; Eph. iii. 15- 
19); and "perfect love" to God and man (Mark xii. 
30-33; 1 John iv. 16-18.) 

15. Can we become perfect Christians in this life ? 
^Ve are required to be (Matt. v. 48; xix. 21; Heb. 

vi. 1). But perfection of Christian character does 
not imply perfect health and soundness of either 
body or mind; hence many natural defects may re- 
main while the intentions are pure; and, while con- 
scious of many imperfections, one may be free from 
all condemnation. (Rom. viii. 1, 2.) 
8 



114 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

16. " Who is sufficient for these things?" 
Without Christ we can do nothing; ' l our sufficiency 

is of God." (John xv. 5; 2 Cor. iii. 5; xii. 10; Phil, 
iv. 13.) 

17. Ought entire sanctification to be professed? 
Why not this as well as justification or regenera- 
tion, since it is God's work ? (Psa. Ixvi. 16; Matt. 
x. 32; Rom. v. 1, 2; viii. 2; 2 Cor. iii. 18; xii. 1-12; 
1 Tim. vi. 12; 1 John i. 3-7.) The truly saved will 
exhibit a real humility and magnify Christ by this 
testimony to His grace. 

Lesson 49. Death and Resurrection. 

1. What is the meaning of Life and Death ? 
"Life" describes the state of a body whose organs 

are capable of exercising their natural functions, or 
the state of a soul whose entire faculties are in a 
healthful and active state; while "Death" describes 
a state in which body or soul is deprived of these 
powers of action. 

2. What is the Source of life ? 

It must have come from the living and eternal 
God (Acts xvii. 28); for it obviously could not 
originate itself nor be produced from lifeless matter. 

3. In the death of man, what occurs? 

The body, deprived of its source of life, sinks into 
decay and final dissolution. 

4. Is death the end of existence? 

No: a dead body is still a complete body. 

5. What is meant by " spiritual death "f 

This means the state into which a soul falls when 
separated by sin from God; — a state in which the 
moral and religious faculties have ceased from their 
proper action towards God and righteousness. 

6. Does the intellectual or spiritual nature of man 
die with the body ? 

No one can affirm that it does. The declaration 
of the prophet that " the soul that sinneth shall die" 



Death and Resurrection. 115 

clearly means only that the identical person that 
sins shall bear his punishment, and not the father 
for the son, nor the son for the father (Ezek. xviii. 
4); and the declaration of " the Preacher" that "the 
dead know not anything, and have no more reward 
under the sun" (Eccles. ix. 5, 10) evidently refers to 
their knowledge of the affairs of this world. 

7. Does the soul sleep with the body in death? 
When the sacred writers call death "a sleep," it 

is always with reference to the saints, who have 
fallen asleep in Jesus and are at rest from the toils, 
cares, and conflicts of this life. (1 Cor. xv. 51; 
1 Thess. iv. 14; v. 10) 

8. Bo the Scriptures clearly teach that the dead retain 
their co n scio u s ness f 

This is taught in the most distinct terms. Christ 
speaks of the ancient patriarchs as still "living" 
and enjoying God. (Luke xx. 38.) Moses andElias 
return to earth long ages after they lived here as men, 
and are heard conversing with Christ, (Matt. xvii. 
3.) Abraham and Lazarus rejoice and converse, 
and Dives suffers and laments after death. (Luke 
xvi. 19-25.) A Paradise of bliss was promised to 
the penitent thief after his death. (Luke xxiii. 43.) 
Paul desired "to die" or "depart" and be with 
Christ, which is "gain" and "far better" than life 
here. (2 Cor. v. 1-8; Phil. i. 28; Rom. viii. 38. 39.) 
John, in vision, saw the souls of those who had died 
for Christ, and heard their prayers. (Rev. xx. 4 ) 
The consciousness of the dead, and their suscepti- 
bility of joy and pain, are manifest in all of these 
and other texts. 

9. Where does the soul go when it leaves the body? 

It "returns to God." (1 Kimrs xvii. 21 ; Eccles. xii. 
7; Luke xxiii. 46; Acts vii. 59; 2 Cor. v. 8.) The 
Hebrew writers mention " Sheol," and the Greek 
writers " Hades," as the place of the dead; but this 
primarily alludes to the grave. Spirits need no ma- 
terial abode. 



1-16 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

10. Why do mankind generally fear death? 
Partly from the natural shrinking from suffering, 

partly from their unwillingness to let go of worldly 
possessions, and partly from the fear of meeting 
God, unto whom they must give account of their 
lives. (Prov. xiv. 32; Isa. xxxiii. 14; 1 Cor. xv. 56; 
Heb. ii. 14, 15.) 

11. Is the resurrection body to be identical with our 
present body f 

Change will come to it, adapting it to its new con- 
ditions or surroundings ; but this change will not 
affect its "identity"; for it is the same body which 
served God or siuned against Him, that will be re- 
warded or punished with the soul. (1 Cor. xv. 
42-44; Rom. ii. 6; vi. 12; 1 Cor. vL 13-20; 2 Cor. 
iv. 10; v. 10; Gal. vi. 7, 8.) 

12. Is the resurrection of the body credible? 

It should not be less credible than the annual 
resurrection of vegetable and insect life in our cold 
latitudes, or than the resurrection of the caterpillar 
from the chrysalis; and, as a doctrine of God, it 
should be believed, because with Him all things 
are possible, and He is true, and will fulfil His 
word. 

Lesson 50. The General and Final Judgment. 

1. Are mankind accountable to God for their volun- 
tary actions? 

So the Holy Scriptures teach (Matt. xii. 36; Acts 
xvii. 31; Rom. xiv. 12; Heb. xiii. 17); and this har- 
monizes with the fact that we are under the domin- 
ion of natural law and subject to its rewards and 
penalties. 

2. What is the basis of our accountability? 

It is founded upon God's claims upon us as His 
intelligent creatures, and our corresponding obli- 
gations. 

3. What is the measure of our accountability? 



The General and Fixal Judgment. 117 

It doubtless measures up to our knowledge of 
right ami wrong, and our ability to do right and 10 
retrain from doing wrong. 

4. Is right doing fully rewarded in this lift? 
Evidently not; for some excellent people and ben- 
efactors of mankind have suffered want and pain 
and cruel tortured and deaths from the violence of 
the wicked. (Heb. xi. 33-40.) 

5. Is wickedness always punished in this life? 

No. Some of the most corrupt and villanous 
tyrants have luxuriated in splendor, died m quiet, 
been buried with costly pomp, and had wonderful 
monuments reared to their memory. (Job xxi. 7- 
14; Psa. ciii. 10; lxxiii. 3-12; Eccles. viii. 11-14; Luke 
xvi. 19.) 

6. How can these inequalities of condition be ex- 
plained ? 

The rational explanation of them is, that their 
proper adjustment is reserved for the future world. 

7. Bat why should this adjustment be deferred? 
One reason for it may be that a man's full merits 

or demerits cannot be determined until his influence 
for good or evil has reached its limit — and that 
may be many centuries after his death. Enough of 
punishment is meted out to sinners here to show the 
holiness and justice of God; while enough of pun- 
ishment is reserved to show to all that while He is 
long suffering, He has a future judgment in His 
plan. The blessings upon the righteous prove God's 
regard for them; and the blessings merited, but with- 
held, prove that He has greater rewards in store 
for them hereafter. 

8. Do the consciences and fears of mankind point to 
afutu re Ju dgme n t ? 

They do; and these forebodings abound in heathen 
as well as Christian lands. (Isa. xxxiii. 14; Acts 
xxiv. 25; Rom. ii. 14-16.) 

9. Do the Scriptures teach that there will be a future 
and general Judgment of mankind? 



118 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

Yes; and in many vivid passages. (Eccles. xii. 14; 
Dan. xii. 2; Mai. ni. 17, 18; Matt. xiii. 40-43; xvi. 
.27; xxv. 31-33; John v. 28, 29; xii. 4b; Acts xvii. 31; 
Heb. ix. 27.) 

10. When will this Judgment lake place? 

At the end of the world, after the Gospel has been 
preached to all nations, the Kingdom of Christ has 
extended over both Jews and Gentiles, and the 
Church of Christ has enjoyed its thousand years of 
peace. (Psa. lxxii. 7; lsa. ii. 4; Matt. xiii. 49, 50; 
xxiv. 14; 2 Thess. i. 2-10; Rom. xi. 25, 26; Rev. 
xx.) 

11. Who will occupy the throne of Judgment? 

God, in the visible Christ. (John v. 22, 27; Acts 
x. 42; xvii. 31; Horn. ii. 16; Rev. i. 7.) 

12. Who will come before Him for Judgment? 

All of mankind, and the angels. (Matt. xxv. 32; 
Rom. xiv. 10-12; 1 Cor. vi. 3; 2 Cor. v. 10; Rev. xx. 
12; Jude6.) 

13. Where icill this assembly be gathered? 

St. Paul represents it as in the air (1 Thess. iv. 15- 
17); it evidently will be where all come under one 
glance of His eye. 

14. What will be the form of procedure? 

It will be an open court; " the books" — the records 
of human lives and characters, being opened to all. 
(Eccles. xii. 14; Dan. vii. 9, 10; Matt. xii. 36; Rom. ii. 
16; Rev. xx. 12.) 

15. Will pardoned sins be brought to light? 

God has said that they shall no more come to re- 
membrance and are blotted out of His book. (lsa. 
xii v. 22; Jer. xviii. 23; xxxi. 34; Ezek. xix. 22; Heb. 
viii. 12; x. 17.) 

16. Will that Judgment be final ? 

It is called in {Scripture the "eternal judgment" 
(Heb. vi. 2); hence, no appeal can be taken from 
its decisions, and they must stand forever. (Rev. 
xv. 3.) 



The Doom of the Wicked. 119 



Lesson 51. Tiie Doom of the "Wicked. 

1. At the final Judgment, what doom icdl be pro- 
nounced upon the wicked? 

The Judge shall say to them: " Depart from me, 
ye cursed, into everlasting tire prepared for the devil 
and his angels." (Matt. xxv. 41.) 

2. Was this doctrine of the future punishment of the 
wicked known among the ancient Hebrews? 

Moses referred to it in Deut. xxxii. 22; Job men- 
tions the place of future punishment (chap. xxvi. 6); 
David declared that "the wicked shall not stand in 
the Judgment, " but "shall be turned into Hell" (Psa. 
i. 5, 6; ix. 17); Solomon clearly saw the coining woe 
(Prov. v. 5;xiv. 32;xv. 11); Isaiah (chap, xxxiii. 14), 
Daniel (chap. xii. 2), and Malachi (chap. iv. 1), fully 
apprehended this truth. 

3. Did John the Baptist recognize this doctrine? 

He clearly referred to it in comparing the wicked 
to chaff, which Christ would burn with "unquench- 
able fire." (Matt. iii. 12.) 

4. Did Christ frequently refer to this doctrine? 

In His sermon on the mount He referred to hell 
three times (Matt. v. 22, 29, 80). When He sent 
forth His apostles, He warned them to fear only 
God, who has power to destroy soul and body in 
Hell (Matt. x. 28). He urged self-denial, in view of 
the danger of being cast into Hell (Matt, xviii. 9). He 
threatened blasphemers and hypocrites with "the 
damnation of Hell "(Matt xi. 23; xxiii. 33; Mark iii. 
29). He explicitly declared that the wicked " shall go 
away into everlasting punishment." (Matt. xiii. 49, 
50; xxv. 46.) 

5. Does /St. Paul give prominence to this doctrine? 
He evidently referred to it in his speech at An- 

tioch (Acts xiii. 41); and clearly teaches it in Rom. ii. 
6, 8. 9; vi. 23; 1 Cor. viii. 11 f Gal. vi. 7, 8; Eph. v. 
5; Phil. iii. 18, 19; Col. iii. 25; 1 Thess. v. 1-3; 



120 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

2 Thess. i. 7-10; 1 Tim. v. 24: vi. 9; 2 Tim. iii. 1-7; 
Heb. ii. 3, 18; iv. 1, 2; vi. 4, 8; x. 26-31; xii. 29. 

6. Do the other Apostles recognize this doctrine? 

St. James refers to it (chap. ii. 13; iv. 12). St. 
Peter makes several references to it (1 Pet. iv. 4, 5, 
17-18; 2 Pet. ii. 3-17). St. Jade makes three refer- 
ences to it in bis short epistle (vs. 4-7, 14-17). St. 
John refers to it ialst epistle v: 12, 16; 2 John 9-11; 
and in Revelation (chap. xx. 12-15, and xxi. 8) lie 
gives vivid and fearful descriptions of the filial doom 
of the wicked. 

7. What is the meaning and design of punishment ? 
It means the infliction of pain upon a transgressor 

of iavv; and its design is to maintain the authority of 
a government by furnishing a motive for obedience 
to those who may feel the restraints of fear. 

8. What will be the future punishment of the wicked ? 
It will include the loss and deprivation of all means 

and hopes of happiness, and the positive pain in- 
flicted by " the wrath of God." (Matt. xvi. 26; Luke 
ix. 25; John iii. 36; Rom. ii 9; Eph. v. 6; 2 Thess. 
i. 8; Rev. xiv. 10.) 

9. Is the term " Hell-fire" to be understood literally? 
Probably not; for fire could have no effect upon "a 

spiritual body." But it implies that there will be 
torment upon the wicked, of which the pain caused 
by fire upon our bodies is a proper symbol. 

10. Will all of the lost suffer alike in Hell? 

Each one shall be punished according to his deeds 
or demerits (2 Cor. v. 10); and this implies the grad- 
ing or adjustment of the punishment to each on 
principles of equity; for " the just Lord will do 
right." (Deut. xxxii. 4; Job xxxiv. 10; Isa. xlv. 21; 
Matt. xi. 24; Rev. xv. 3, 4.) 

1 1 . Do the words ' ' destroy," ' ' destruction, " ' ' perish" 
as applied to the icicked, imply the annihilation or ex- 
tinction of their being or of their consciousness ? 

No. As applied to them in this life, they mean to 
cut them off and banish them from joy and life here; 



The Heaven of the Righteous. 121 

and as applied to them in the future state, they 
mean the destruction of all their hopes of happiness 
and their exclusion from the joyous life of the right- 
eous. "Everlasting punishment " (Matt. xxv. 46); 
implies everlasting consciousness of pain and woe. 
12. What id ill be the duration of the future doom of 
the tricked? 

It will continue forever. (1 Chron. xxviii. 9; 
Matt, xviii. 8; xxv. 46; 2 Thess. i. 9; Isa. xxxiii. 14.) 

Lesson 52. The Heaven of the Righteous. 

1. In the final Judgment, what will the Judge say to 
the Righteous? 

He will say: " Come, ye blessed of my Father, in- 
herit the kingdom prepared for you from the found- 
ation of the world." (Matt. xxv. 34.) 

2. Where is that inheritance or kingdom ? 
It is in Heaven, where Christ now is. 

3. Where or what is Heaven ? 

This name is applied to the arched sky — the region 
of clouds (Gen. i. 7. 8; Matt. xxiv. 30); to the higher 
region of the stars (Gen. i. 14; Josh. x. 13); and, in 
the phrase " Heaven of heavens" it designates the 
highest realms where God dwells with His holy ones 
(Dent. x. 14; 1 Kings viii. 27; 2 Cor. v. 1, 2; xii. 2; 
Heb. x. 34; xi. 16). It is always referred to as " up" 
— away from earth (Gen. xxviii. 12: 2 Kings ii. 1; 
Markxvi. 19; John iii. 18; Acts i. 11 ; Heb. ix. 24); and 
it means the place of holiness and happiness. 

4. Will there be new heavens and earth created for 
the saints? 

There is room for doubt whether the statement in 
Isaiah lxv. 17, and quoted in 2 Peter iii. 13, is to be 
understood literally: for the context points to pres- 
ent changes in mankind, and Christ represents that 
the Heaven of the saints was " prepared from the 
foundation of the w T orld," and that He was going 
away from earth there to prepare mansions for 



122 Studies in Christian Doctrine. 

His followers. (Matt. xxv. 34; John xiv. 1-3; Heb. 
xii. 2) 

5. What icill become of the earth and solar system ? 
Tliey will "be dissolved with fervent heat" and 

pass away. (Isa. xxxiv. 4: Matt. xxiv. 35; 2 Pet. 
iii. 10, 11; Rev. vi. 14; xx. 11.) 

6. Will you men tion some of the physical characteristics 
of the Bible Heaven f 

It will be Divinely illuminated, "having no need of 
the sun," and "no night" (Isa. lx. 19,20; Col. i. 
12; 1 Tim. vi. 15, 16; Rev. xxi. 23; xxii. 5); it will 
be free from the curse of sickness, pain, and death 
(Isa. xxxiii. 24; Rev. xxi. 4: xxii. 3); and exempt 
from all want and sorrow. (Rev. vii. 16; xxii. 23.) 

7. Who will dwell in that blest abode? 

God will ever be manifest there (Matt. v. 8); the 
glorified Christ will be visible there (John xiv. 1-3; 
xvii. 24; Col. iii. 1; 1 John iii. 2); the holy angels 
dwell there (Matt. xxii. 30); and the saved of earth 
will be there (1 Thess. iii. 17; 1 Pet. i. 3-5); but the 
wicked shall be forever excluded therefrom. (Matt, 
vii. 21-23; Gal. v. 19-21; Rev. xx. 8; xxi. 27.) 

8. What will be the bodily -condition of the saved ? 
Their bodies will be changed from grossness to 

spirituality and be like Christ's glorious body (Dan. 
x. 5. 6; xii. 3; Matt xiii. 43; 1 Cor. xv. 42-45; Phil, 
iii. 21); they shall hunger no more, thirst no more, 
die no more. (Rev. vii. 16, 17; xxi. 4.) 

9. What will be their mental condition ? 

It will be one of perfect knowledge, rest, and sat- 
isfaction. (Psa. xvi. 11; xvii. 15; John xiii. 7; 1 
Cor. xiii. 10-12; Heb. iv. 9; 1 John iii. 2.) 

10. What will contribute to their happiness? 

They will possess a rich inheritance (Matt. xix. 
29; xxv. 34; Acts xxvi. 18: Rom. viii. 17, 18; Col. 
i. 12; 1 Pet. i. 4); they will occupy "a city that 
hath foundations" in "a better country" (Matt. vi. 
19, 20; xix. 21; Heb. x. 34; xi. 10-16; Rev. xxi. 10- 
27); they shall be enthroned and crowned with honor 



The Heaven of the Righteous. 123 

(Matt. xix. 28; Luke xii. 32; xxii. 29; Rev. xx. 4); 
they shall shine with resplendent glory (Psa. Ixxiii. 
24; Dan. xii. 3; Matt. xiii. 43; 2 Cor. iv. 17; Phil. iii. 
21; 1 Pet. v. 10; Kev. xviii. 1; xix. 10); and ''they 
shall see God. 1 ' (Matt v. 8, John xvii. 24.) 

11. How will they be employed in Heaven? 

In Divine worship and service suiied to their 
varied capacities. (Rev vii. 9-11; xxii. 3, 4.) 

12. Will friends recognize each other there f 
Undoubtedly; for personal identity will survive 

all changes of body; and our knowledge shall be 
greater iliere than it is here. "(1 Cor. xiii. 10-12.) 

13. How long will the Heavenly bliss continue? 

It will last forever. (Matt. xxv. 46; Mark x. 30; 
John x. 28; xvii. 2; Rom. ii. 7; vi. 23; 2 Cor. iv. 17, 
18; v. 1; 2 Tim. ii. 10; Rev. iii. 12.) 

14. Can we all gain a home in Heaven? 

Yes; for God wills that all should be saved; and 
He says to every one: "Ask, and it shall be given 
you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be 
opened unto you." Christ is "the door," and he in- 
vites all to come to Him now. (1 Tim. ii. 4; Matt, 
vi. 7; John vi. 37; x. 9; 2 Cor. vi. 2 ) 

15. Well Infants who die in infancy, and virtuous 
Heathen who never heard of Jesus, be saved in Heaven? 

Yes; for the atoning sacrifice of Jesus avails for 
their salvation, and God is just. (Mark x. 13-16; 
Acts x. 34; Rom. ii. 11-15; v. 18.) 

16. If any for whom Christ died, fail of reaching 
Heaven, whose fault will it be ? 

It will be their own fault, and becnuseTHEY wtll 
KOT repent of sin and come to Christ for salvation. 
(Mark xvi. 16; John viii. 21, 24; Heb. iii. 1-3.) 



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